Understanding Hair Loss
Hair loss is actually a physiological routine unless it exceeds roughly 100 hairs per day. Hair has its own life cycle called Anagen (growing phase), Catagen (shedding phase) and Telogen (resting phase) where these steps are necessary for a healthy hair growth. Once the cycle is complete, it restarts and a new strand of hair begins to form. Hair grows from the root –which is located 3-4 mm deep- and is ‘fed’ by blood vessels of the follicle, which give the nourishment to it to grow. Every hair can be at a different stage of the growth cycle at any given time; the growth rate of hair varies from individual to individual depending on their gender, age, genetic predisposition and countless environmental factors. It is commonly stated that hair grows about 1cm per month on average; however reality is more complex, since not all hair grows at once. Scalp hair is known to grow between 0.6cm and 3.36cm per month. Scalp hair growth rate depends on sex (female hair grows faster than men), ethnicity (Caucasian hair grows faster than Asian hair) and age (hair tends to grow slower with age)
Life cycle of the hair could be interfered by some particular genetic & non-genetic issues which might end up with permanent and/or temporary hair loss.
Anagen Phase
The anagen phase is known as the growth phase. This is the phase where the hair physically grows approximately 1 cm per month. It begins in the papilla and can last from three to five years. The span at which the hair remains in this stage of growth is determined by genetics. The longer the hair stays in the anagen phase, the longer it will grow. During this phase, cells neighboring the papilla in a germinative layer divide to produce new hair fibers, and the follicle buries itself into the dermal layer of the skin to nourish the strand. About 85%–90% of the hairs on one’s head are in the anagen phase at any given time.
Catagen phase
The catagen phase, also known as the transitional phase, allows the follicle to, in a sense, renew itself. During this time, which lasts about two weeks, the hair follicle shrinks due to disintegration and the papilla detaches and “rests,” cutting the hair strand off from its nourishing blood supply. Signals sent out by the body (that only selectively affect 1 percent of all hair of one’s body at any given time) determine when the anagen phase ends and the catagen phase begins. The first sign of catagen is the cessation of melanin production in the hair bulb and apoptosis of follicular melanocytes. Ultimately, the follicle is 1/6 its original length, causing the hair shaft to be pushed upward. While hair is not growing during this phase, the length of the terminal fibers increases when the follicle pushes them upward.
Telogen phase
During the Telogen or resting phase (also known as shedding phase) the follicle remains dormant for one to four months. Ten to fifteen percent of the hairs on one’s head are in this phase of growth at any given time. In this phase, the epidermal cells lining the follicle channel continue to grow as normal and may accumulate around the base of the hair, temporarily anchoring it in place and preserving the hair for its natural purpose without taxing the body’s resources needed during the growth phase.
At some point, the follicle will begin to grow again, softening the anchor point of the shaft initially. The hair base will break free from the root and the hair will be shed. Within two weeks, the new hair shaft will begin to emerge once the Telogen phase is complete. The process results in normal hair loss known as shedding.
Hair Loss
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