How to Know the life cycle of the hair to understand the reason for hairloss

Often people tend to associate hair loss with the fact that they suffer from androgenetic alopecia. Nothing could be more wrong. Not in all cases, in fact, we are faced with the fall caused by genetic and hereditary factors, indeed.

Although this is certainly the most common and widespread form, as well as one of the first causes of hair loss, it must be stressed that hair does not always fall out due to genetic issues. In this regard, it is also useful to say that in some cases the hair loss is completely physiological.

Therefore, it is useful to know the life cycle of the hair so as to go and analyze closely what are the reasons that lead to hair loss.

The life cycle of the hair: how it is born, grows and dies

Before getting to the heart of the matter, some clarifications must be made. The number of hairs varies according to the age of the individual and it is important to emphasize this because it means that, with advancing years, you have a hair less and less thick by nature. This, therefore, is physiological and should not be scary.

The life cycle of the hair is divided into several phases, three to be precise. Specifically they are: ànagen, catagen and telogen.

The first phase, ànagen, is that of growth vera and proper. In this phase there are 6 more, all distinct from each other. Everything begins with the birth of the hair, which starts from the matrix cell and which, through a complex process, leads the hair to overcome what is called follicular rib. This first phase lasts about 2-4 years in men, while in women it lasts up to 7 years. From then on, the hair begins to grow and lengthens about 1 cm per month in men and 1.5 cm per month in women. At this stage the hair is healthy and well anchored and, therefore, falls out only if stressed in a strong way and not without pain.

The second phase, càtagen, is what is defined as progressive arrest of vital hair functions. It stops what is the mitotic activity of the cells of the matrix and, from this moment on, a series of disappearances lead to the formation of a sort of bag that goes to protect the last cells that are produced by the matrix. Then follow a series of steps necessary to make the bulb go back up until it reaches the collar. At this point you lose the sheath and, if everything is in the norm, you have a new ànagen.

The teza phase, tèlogen, is what is defined as functional rest. There are no more vital functions, but the hair is still in the hair follicle. It is technically dead, but it needs a little more time before it falls out. In this case, when the hair falls, it does not hurt and there is no pain. Be careful, however, because although this phase is very worrying for the patients, you should always remember that the living part of the hair has remained deep inside the hair.

A modest hair loss is, therefore, completely physiological. They are those that are in the last phase of their life cycle. If everything is in the right place, however, and works properly, the hair regenerates and this should not worry. Different speech, however, if you have too much hair loss. This could, in fact, be a real danger and you have to analyze the causes of the hair loss without wasting time.