The Hair Growth Cycle
Hair follicles grow in repeated cycles. One cycle can be broken down into three phases.
Anagen - Growth Phase
Catagen - Transitional phase
Telogen - Resting Phase
Each hair passes through the phases independent of the neighboring hairs.
Anagen Phase - Growth Phase
Approximately 85% of all hairs are in the growing phase at any one time. The Anagen phase or growth phase can vary from two to six years. Hair grows approximately 10cm per year and any individual hair is unlikely to grow more than one meter long.
Catagen Phase - transitional phase
At the end of the Anagen phase the hairs enters into a Catagen phase which lasts about one or two weeks, during the Catagen phase the hair follicle shrinks to about 1/6 of the normal length. The lower part is destroyed and the dermal papilla breaks away to rest below.
Telogen Phase - resting phase
The resting phase follows the catagen phase and normally lasts about 5-6 weeks. During this time the hair does not grow but stays attached to the follicle while the dermal papilla stays in a resting phase below. Approximately 10-15 percent of all hairs are in this phase at an one time.
At the end of the Telogen phase the hair follicle re-enters the Anagen phase. The dermal papilla and the base of the follicle join together again and a new hair begins to form. If the old hair has not already been shed the new hair pushes the old one out and the growth cycle starts all over again
2. The fragile, marshmallow-white girl stood up in front of the class. "I woke up one day to
the surprise of drool on my cheek and a bald patch on my head," she said.
Although only 11, she gave her presentation using terms that only adults or medical
students would understand. "My project is about the autoimmune disorder I have:
alopecia areata.
Her classmates needed no explanation since it was obvious that the girl had lost her
eyelashes, eyebrows, and hair. She frequently had to leave school for doctor
appointments. Teasing was never an issue for her because people saw that she had not
let her condition affect her life; confidence was her key. Her peers frequently asked her
why she chose not to wear a wig, and she would merely reply, "My hair may be short
enough to cause worry, but life is too short to allow it."
That girl is me.ArganRain my problem with what I see as a miracle, and I'm over it I
would recommend without hesitation to anyone experiencing problems like you and
me.
Good luck to everyone...