General introduction to hair loss (The importance of hair follicles)
Hair is one of the most important parts of our body. The average person has 5 million hairs (100,000 - 150,000 on the scalp). Blondes generally have more hair (approximately 140,000), brunettes have slightly above average hair counts (approximately 105,000 hairs), and redheads have slightly less hair than average (approximately 105,000 hairs). approximately 90,000).
Hair is made up of a protein called keratin that makes up the outer part of nails and skin. Hair is made from small tissues under the skin called hair follicles.
Learn about hair follicles
Hair follicles are created while we are still fetuses, and are no longer formed from birth. Hair growth is related to hormones in the body, and during puberty, special male hormones promote the growth of pubic hair, armpit hair, and beard. These hormones also promote the induction of genetic male pattern baldness.
Each hair continues to grow for 5 years. After that, there is a transitional stage in which the hair no longer grows, and it begins to change to the third stage, which can be seen as the resting stage. During this stage, the hair follicles stop growing and the old hair falls out, and the cycle of growth begins again and a new stage of development begins.
Until the hair falls out and grows back
These phases happen over and over again in our lifetime, and that's why everyone loses 50-100 hairs per day and no hair loss occurs. That is, how many hairs do you lose in a day? It is more important how much hair grows back after it falls out.
Are all hair loss genetics?
Most hair loss is caused by genetic influences. It can be found that a large number of hormone receptors appear in the part of the scalp where hair loss occurs, and hair loss begins with the same amount of male hormones as normal people. However, the hormones of the initiators of hair loss appear to be higher than those of ordinary people because there are a greater number of receptors in the areas that begin to peel off by hair loss.
Research continues on a specific male hormone called Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) that damages the hair follicles in people who develop hereditary hair loss. As the follicles are damaged, the overgrown hair becomes thinner and eventually devoid of hair, and only small, miniaturized hairs may grow. As more hair becomes smaller and smaller, the person will eventually become bald.
Genetic hair loss accounts for 95% of all causes of hair loss. Another major cause is an autoimmune condition known as Alopecia Areata. Treatments for these conditions are being studied, and other causes are also caused by side effects from medications, stress, and food deficiency.
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