Clinically proven information on Hair Loss causes and treatments to prevent baldness

There are many who suffer from the problem of hair fall. However, instead of understanding the main reason behind it, they blindly start searching for treatments to cure hair fall. For such people, most of the treatments go waste due to misunderstanding of the cause which is leading to hair loss. In this article, however, we have tried to give you a better idea of the hair growth cycle and how effective measures can be taken in each cycle or stage to prevent hair loss.

Hair Growth Cycle

Our hairs undergo a set growth cycle, which involves undergoing various stages like birth, youth and death! Our hairs grow out of the hair follicles and hair follicles live in repeated cycle. This means, that as old hairs keep falling out of the follicles, new hairs keep growing out of the same follicles too. It is mainly divided into three phases:

1. Anagen – this is the first stage of the hair growth cycle and is also called as the growth phase. It is estimated, that at any given time, there are more than 85% of our hair, which are undergoing this stage. Varying from person to person, the anagen phase can last up to two to six years. For those more interested in length of the hair, an individual hair in this stage can grow up to one meter (!), while the hairs grow approximately 10cm in one year. The hair cells called keratinocytes multiply the most in this stage from the bulb, pushing the old cells upwards forming the hair shaft, which we finally see as the hair coming out of the scalp.

2. Catagen Phase – This is the second phase of the hair growth life cycle and is also called as the transitional phase. Once the anagen phase is over, the hair enters into this phase. This happens when the multiplying facility of the cells begins to die or the cells receive some chemical signal from the scalp or blood (DHT or certain medications), and the hair growth stops completely. The hair then begins to die. The old hair is attracted outwards towards the skin by the fibers in the extra cellular matrix. While lasting for not more than one or two weeks, the hair follicle in catagen phase shrinks, hence, destroying the lower part of the hair and breaking the dermal papilla away free for the new hair to form again.

3. Telogen Phase – This phase is the third and final phase of the hair life cycle and is also sometimes called as the resting phase. In this phase, the hair remains attached to the hair follicle, while the dermal papilla undergoes a resting period. At any given time, the there are almost 10% of the hair which are undergoing this phase.

Once the above cycle is over, the hair follicle in the telogen phase, re-enters the anagen phase, leading to a new hair formation. Usually, it is the new hair that pushes the old hair out of the follicle, thus resulting in the hair fall. It is estimated that each days the above mentioned lifecycle leads to a hair fall of about 100 strands.

Hair life cycle and hair fall

It is often cited by the scientists that any disruption in the normal growth cycle of the hair might result in the problem of hair fall. When experienced in excess, this might even lead to the permanent alopecia amongst many people. There are many reasons owing to the disruption of the hair growth cycle in people, such as presence of excessive androgens, high fever, a severe illness, thyroid diseases, iron deficiency, medications, hormonal imbalance, extreme stress and in women following childbirth etc. Some more factors that might result in the disruption are chemotherapeutic agents (used to treat cancer), anticoagulants, retinoids, beta-adrenergic blockers, oral contraceptives, burns, X-rays, scalp injuries, exposure to chemicals like bleach and dye etc.

Treating the above mentioned causes in early stages will help in reducing the instances of hair fall in  hair growth cycle. Consulting a good doctor and taking effective treatments can produce magnificent results.