It is important to note that shedding of hairs is a natural process with anything from 100 to 300 hairs randomly shed each day. In this article we'll look at two distinct aspects of normal hair loss. Firstly, we'll examine what is actually involved in the hair growth cycle. Secondly, we'll assess the natural progression of hair loss over time.
Hair is composed of long, twisted keratin fibers that are protected by a coating of keratinized cells. Just below the surface of the skin lies a cluster of active cells known as the dermal papilla and it is from here that the hair grows into its follicle.
This growing fiber eventually hardens and grows out from the scalp. At this stage the hair fiber is dead with only the root tip containing living cells.
In a little more detail, the hair growth cycle, consists of three distinct stages:
1. Anagen stage - a phase of growth that can last between two and seven years. On average, each hair grows about six inches (15cm) per year.
2. Catagen stage - a phase of transition that lasts roughly two to four weeks. At this time the hair shaft detaches from the dermal papilla and moves up within a shrinking follicle.
3. Telogen stage - a resting period that lasts about three months allowing the hair to detach itself from the follicle before falling out. After this, the cycle repeats itself unless other factors intervene to prevent repetition of the cycle.
Clearly time has a role to play in the development of hair loss for both men and women. Humans are born with varying amounts of soft and fine body hair. Through time some of this hair becomes stronger and develops further characteristics such as colour and texture. Up to the onset of puberty the hairline is characterized by a low spread across the forehead. For men, this continues only for a few more years.
As men progress through their twenties the hairline takes on a more mature look typified by recessions to the frontal temporal regions and accompanied by slight thinning elsewhere. This concave appearance doesn't necessarily equate to premature balding as it is all a question of degree.
The Norwood Scale is an extremely useful tool in developing a hair growth strategy as it allows you to establish your own degree of hair loss in a way that is understood by physicians and other hair loss experts. More importantly, it can help to set your mind at rest and allow you to differentiate between normal hair loss that does not require remedial action and more extreme loss that calls for immediate action.
You can assess the extent of your own hair loss by following the link below.
Richard Mitchell is the creator of the myhairlossadvisor.com, website that provides information and guidance to those suffering from premature hair loss. Please go to Normal Hair Loss to learn more about the issues covered in this article.
There is again no sure-fire way to prevent all hair... Read More
Male Pattern BaldnessOn average, there are 90,000 to 150,000 hairs... Read More
Medical hair restoration in the literal sense includes the hair... Read More
Laser hair removal is rapidly growing to be the most... Read More
If you are getting 'harried' by unwanted hair, if you... Read More
Technically known as alopecia, baldness means thinning or loss of... Read More
1. Eat adequate amounts of protein. Protein is composed of... Read More
Much has been said and written about modern day hair... Read More
How Laser Hair Removal worksA laser emits an invisible beam... Read More
Hair loss and male-pattern baldness is an affliction suffered by... Read More
The nature of hair is to grow. That's why laser... Read More
Very few people, especially those suffering from alopecia, or balding,... Read More
In a separate article in this series we looked at... Read More
Waxing is messy and painful; plucking hurts and Razors gives... Read More
In order to treat hair loss successfully, it is necessary... Read More
Doctors distinguish between different types of hair loss. The male... Read More
Most of the modern day hair loss treatments articles and... Read More
Hair loss is widely accepted as a man's problem and... Read More
Since baldness is hereditary, many people think that there are... Read More
Note-This content only presents overviews of hair loss prevention research... Read More
When you think of hair loss it's natural to assume... Read More
Most hair loss sufferers seek solutions from Western medicine or... Read More
There are many shampoos on the market that are advertised... Read More
The question of hair loss comes up all the time... Read More
Minoxidil is one of only two FDA-approved treatments for hair... Read More
Fact: There is no sure-fire way to prevent all hair... Read More
In 1990 I decided not to use the commercially made... Read More
The news spread like lightning across the Internet...In Japanese clinical... Read More
Andropause and hair loss often go hand in hand. Imagine... Read More
Hair, though often overlooked, plays an important role in our... Read More
Balding is something that happens to most men and some... Read More
Finasteride was initially marketed to treat prostate conditions under the... Read More
Laser hair removal is the best available method for hair... Read More
Very few people, especially those suffering from alopecia, or balding,... Read More
One key factor in maintaining a growing protein on a... Read More
Hair Loss is an issue troubling many males and females... Read More
There is again no sure-fire way to prevent all hair... Read More
Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) is by far the most... Read More
Hair loss usually occurs because of hormonal factors. As a... Read More
Losing hair is not only a cosmetic problem though it... Read More
Hair, though often overlooked, plays an important role in our... Read More
Hair loss causes range from simple to complex. Some of... Read More
In order to treat hair loss successfully, it is necessary... Read More
DHT hair loss affects both men and women.DHT stands for... Read More
There are several accepted methods of hair removal but many... Read More
There are many shampoos on the market that are advertised... Read More
In a separate article in this series we looked at... Read More
There's plenty you can do to hang on to what... Read More
Many people who experience balding or thinning hair often search... Read More
The effectiveness of modern hair loss treatments is clear for... Read More
Are you losing more than 20-100 strands of hairs a... Read More
The question of hair loss comes up all the time... Read More
Hair Loss In Women - The Role of DHT &... Read More
The hair loss treatments outlined here cannot provide definitive cures... Read More
Telogen effluvium is a hair loss condition that is characterized... Read More
With hair loss in men, hair at the temples recedes... Read More
Since baldness is hereditary, many people think that there are... Read More
How Laser Hair Removal worksA laser emits an invisible beam... Read More
Hair loss is a genetic/hormonal process that can affect both... Read More
Fact: There is no sure-fire way to prevent all hair... Read More
Alopecia areata is a condition that is typified by patchy... Read More
If you notice your hair thinning, this might not be... Read More
Medical hair restoration in the literal sense includes the hair... Read More
Hair loss is widely accepted as a man's problem and... Read More
The hair care industry is a billion dollar industry. "A... Read More
Men and women visiting a hair restoration centre or clinic... Read More
Hair Loss |