Hair Facts
This section discusses general hair topics. It is useful to understand the growth cycle of a hair, the types of hair loss and the true causes of grey hair and baldness, in order to avoid the frustrations experienced with some hair treatments. A good understanding of the biology of hair might help you diagnose yourself and determine whether you have any problem at all and better estimate your treatment options, enabling you to avoid common mistakes. One of the greatest weapons of cunning, snake oil marketers is exploiting the false myths and the lack of knowledge of their potential customers. One good example is shedding. Many people are frightened when they experience increased shedding. They do not realise that it is a regular seasonal occurrence and often no reason for concern.
Life Cycle of Hair
The life cycle of hair is divided into three phases. The actively growing (anagen) phase, the transitional (catagen) phase and the resting (telogen) phase. During the growth phase, which normally lasts from three to six years, hair will grow about 10mm a month. It is estimated that 85% of the hair on any head at any given time is in the growth phase. At the end of this period, blood supply to the hair bulb slows down and eventually stops. As a result, the hair ceases to grow and moves into the transitional phase, which lasts only about two weeks. Finally, hair enters the resting phase, where it basically just sits on the head for about three months. Read more...
Alopecia (Hair Loss)
Alopecia or hair loss can have many forms and causes. It affects both sexes and all age groups. Alopecia does not refer to one specific hair loss disease - any form of hair loss is alopecia. Hair loss can be caused by any number of conditions. Some diagnoses have alopecia in their title, such as alopecia areata or androgenetic alopecia, but many do not, such as telogen effluvium. Read more...