HAIR LOSS AND THE NORMAL CYCLE OF HAIR GROWTH

Man has an inevitable problem in relation to hair loss. This condition generally starts by the age of 30 and slowly worsens thereafter, unless a hair loss treatment is used to stop the progress of escalating hair fall.

To better understand how hair loss occurs, it is recommended to gain knowledge on how hair grows. Typically, the normal growth cycle of hair has three phases.

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The initial phase is the Anagen phase, this is the time where hair growth is most active. The papilla, which is located at the bottom of the hair follicle, rapidly multiply creating hair. This growth adds around half an inch of hair each month. The Anagen phase last for about six years and once the papillae starts to weaken or slow down in hair production, this marks the start of the next phase.

The second phase is the catagen phase. This is a really short phase and only last for 2-3 weeks. . There is absolutely no hair growth at this phase. The papillae and hair follicles starts to atropy or shrink. This shrinkage loosens the hold of the hair follicle to the hair shaft. Though there is no actual hair shedding in this phase, hairs can be pulled out while combing and shampooing.

And the third and last phase is telogen. Also called the resting phase, this is where actual hair shedding occurs. These are the types of hair found on the pillow every morning and there is no actual force involved for hair to fall out. In this case, the old hair shaft is extruded out of the follicle and these accounts for 50 to 100 hair fall in a day. This number of hair fall each day is considered normal and anything in excess is considered an increased in hair fall.

After the last phase, new hair growth occurs again and the process repeats itself. Typically, a full cycle last for about three to four years. Depending on the condition of on individual this cycle can get shorter or longer.