Hair loss refers to hair that has fallen out from any body part. It’s normal to lose anywhere from 30 to 60 hairs per day but there are many reasons why a person may lose more than this amount, which can cause a problem. In America, approximately 21 million women and 35 million men are affected by conditions that cause them to lose more hair than normal. Approximately 80% of the male population will have a noticeable loss of hair by the time they are 35 while 65% will experience higher than average hair loss by the age of 60.

The Hair Growth Cycle

There are three stages in the cycle of hair growth which include the growing (anagen) stage, the transitional (catagen) stage and the resting (telogen) stage. These stages are the same for both men and women and for all body types.

Growing stage – The hair grows during this stage and it lasts anywhere from 2 up to 5 years. About 90% of a person’s hair follicles are at this stage at any time. This is when the keratin protein is produced by the cells. When the cells are healthy and working as they should be the hair is thick in diameter. When the hair becomes thin, it’s evident that the cells are doing their job properly and a thin, fine hair is produced.

Transitional stage – This is a shorter stage that only last for 1 to 2 weeks. Approximately 1% to 2% of the follicles go through this stage at any given time. There is no production of keratin and the follicle undergoes quick contractions and wrinkling.

Resting stage – Approximately 10% of the follicles remain in the stage at any time and it lasts 3 – 5 months. The hairs in the follicle bulbs, which are fully contracted, stay at rest until they fall out later. During this stage, a man or woman may lose up to 50 hairs per day but they will be replaced by brand-new anagen hair.

This is the life cycle of hair growth and there are many reasons why it may be disrupted. It’s important to get to the root cause of hair loss for each individual in order to help resolve it. If you’re noticing abnormal hair loss please visit our website at antechhair.com to schedule a free consultation to help determine the cause and best solutions available for your hair loss.

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