Scribd
Upload
1K views3 pages

Hair Growth Cycle

Hair is composed of keratin and consists of three layers - the medulla, cortex, and cuticle. Below the skin's surface is the hair root, which is enclosed in the hair follicle. The dermal papilla at the base of the follicle contains receptors that regulate hair growth through male hormones and androgens. Hair follicles grow in cycles of anagen (growth phase), catagen (transitional phase), and telogen (resting phase). During the anagen phase, hair grows for 2-6 years until entering the catagen phase, then the telogen resting phase lasts around 56 weeks before reentering the anagen phase for new hair growth.

Uploaded by

Reynan Cabatbat
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
1K views3 pages

Hair Growth Cycle

Hair is composed of keratin and consists of three layers - the medulla, cortex, and cuticle. Below the skin's surface is the hair root, which is enclosed in the hair follicle. The dermal papilla at the base of the follicle contains receptors that regulate hair growth through male hormones and androgens. Hair follicles grow in cycles of anagen (growth phase), catagen (transitional phase), and telogen (resting phase). During the anagen phase, hair grows for 2-6 years until entering the catagen phase, then the telogen resting phase lasts around 56 weeks before reentering the anagen phase for new hair growth.

Uploaded by

Reynan Cabatbat
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Hair Structure and Hair Life Cycle

Hair Structure

Hair is composed of strong structural protein called keratin. This is the same kind of protein that makes up the nails and the outer layer of skin.

Each strand of hair consists of three layers.


1. An innermost layer or medulla which is only present in large thick hairs. 2. The middle layer known as the cortex. The cortex provides strength and both the color and the texture of hair. 3. The outermost layer is known as the cuticle. The cuticle is thin and colorless and serves as a protector of the cortex.

Structure of the hair root


Below the surface of the skin is the hair root, which is enclosed within a hair follicle. At the base of the hair follicle is the dermal papilla. The dermal papilla is feed by the bloodstream which carries nourishment to produce new hair. The dermal papilla is a structure very important to hair growth because it contains receptors for male hormones and androgens. Androgens regulate hair growth and in scalp hair Androgens may cause the hair follicle to get progressively smaller and the hairs to become finer in individuals who are genetically predisposed to this type of hair loss.

The Hair Growth Cycle

Hair follicles grow in repeated cycles. One cycle can be broken down into three phases. 1. Anagen - Growth Phase 2. Catagen - Transitional phase 3. 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 56 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 a 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.

You might also like