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Hair Growth Cycle

By Dan Miller, on September 6th, 2009

ANATOMY OF THE HAIR FOLLICLE

Every strand of hair on the scalp consists of a hair shaft, which is visible above the skin, and a hair root, which resides in a hair follicle beneath the skin surface. Projecting into the base of each hair follicle and hair root is a structure called the dermal papilla, which is composed of rapidly dividing cells. These cells pack together in the hair follicle, forming the hair shaft. Hair grows in a three phase cycle.

ANATOMY OF THE HAIR FOLLICLE

NATURAL HAIR GROWTH CYCLE

In an initial phase, known as anagen, the hair is actively growing in the hair follicle, root cells are being divided and adding approximately 1 centimeter every 28 days. The length of this stage is determined genetically and ranges from 2 to 7 years.

During a transitional phase, known as catagen, the hair follicle retracts and pulls away from the dermal papilla, causing the hair to stop growing. It last between 2 t0 3 weeks.

In a final resting phase, known as telogen, the hair follicle remains inactive. As the anagen phase begins again in the following cycle, the old hair shaft is often pushed out by the new hair as it grows.

hair growth cycle

FOLLICLE MINIATURIZATION: WHERE THE PROBLEM BEGINS

Individuals experience pattern baldness when their hair follicles begin to miniaturize. As hair follicles miniaturize, the new hair shafts they produce become progressively smaller and finer with each successive hair cycle. Eventually, some hair follicles become too miniaturized and weak to generate hair, and fall into a dormant state. Follicles can remain in a dormant state a few years until ultimately they stop producing hair.

TREATMENT

September 6th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , | Category: Hair loss research, Laser hair therapy, Male pattern baldness

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