Hair Loss Cycle
Understanding How Hair Loss Works
Hair loss can be a complicated issue with a variety of causes. Understanding these underlying causes can be key to treating it effectively. The hair loss cycle involves several phases, including growth, transition, resting, and shedding. All these phases can be influenced by genetics, hormones, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Conditions like androgenetic alopecia (AGA or male pattern baldness) can disrupt the natural hair growth cycle. This disruption leads to hair thinning and baldness. Understanding the hair growth cycle and what causes hair loss can help with effective management and treatment options.
Introduction to the Hair Loss Cycle
The most common form of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and is characterized by the gradual loss of hair. In men, it typically follows a similar pattern, with either receding of thinning hair at the front, temples, or crown. In contrast, women will often experience hair loss as diffuse thinning across the scalp. While androgenetic alopecia is generally a cosmetic concern, it can have a significant impact on self-esteem and confidence. To properly treat hair loss, it’s crucial to understand how the natural hair growth cycle is disrupted, leading to hair loss.
Genetic Predisposition
Genetic predisposition is one of the most common causes of hair loss, which impacts both men and women. Androgenetic alopecia, or male pattern baldness, is caused by inherited traits passed down through family genes. These traits lead to sensitivity to hormones like dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which causes hair follicles to shrink over time. This is visible as gradually thinning hair, followed by hair loss and balding. Understanding the genetic risk to hair loss can help with proactive steps to manage and slow down the progression.
Hormonal Influence
- Numerous studies have identified specific genetic markers associated with androgenetic alopecia. A study published in the journal Nature Communications in 2017 identified over 200 genetic loci linked to male pattern baldness. These findings highlight the hereditary nature of AGA.
Role of Androgen Receptor Gene
- The androgen receptor gene is located on the X chromosome and plays a crucial role in AGA. A study published in the journal JAMA Dermatology in 2013 showed that variations in this gene can influence susceptibility to AGA, which impacts the hair growth cycle.
Hormonal Influence
Hormones play an important role in hair loss. Hormones like dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a byproduct of testosterone, can bind to hair follicles causing them to shrink. Other hormonal shifts, such as thyroid disorders, can disrupt the hair growth cycle and result in excessive shedding or thinning. Recognizing the hormonal influence is key to identifying effective treatment options.
The Role of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
- Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a potent androgen derived from testosterone. DHT leads to a process known as miniaturization within the hair growth cycle. A study published in the journal Dermatology in 2020 investigated the correlation between DHT levels and AGA severity, providing insights into the hormonal aspects of the condition.
Sensitivity of Hair Follicles
- Hair follicles are not all equally as sensitive to DHT. Some follicles are genetically predisposed to be more sensitive, leading to miniaturizing during the growth cycle. Research published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation in 2019 identified specific androgen receptor genes responsible for regulating hair growth.
Follicular Miniaturization
The primary process behind hair thinning and hair loss is follicular miniaturization. This occurs when hair follicles gradually shrink in size, producing thinner, shorter, and less pigmented hair over time. Eventually the follicles can stop producing hair completely, leading to balding. Understanding the miniaturization process is important to assist with treatments to maintain and restore the hair follicle health.
Progressive Hair Thinning
- The biggest sign of hair loss is the gradual thinning of hair shafts within the hair growth cycle. Over time, the affected hair follicles produce thinner, shorter hair. This is done through the miniaturization process, which disrupts the hair growth cycle.
Shrinking of Hair Follicles
- The miniaturization within the hair growth cycle is accompanied by the shrinking of hair follicles. As the hair follicles become smaller, they produce increasingly fine and weak hairs. This process will eventually lead to the cessation of hair growth altogether.
Impact on Hair Growth Cycle
- The miniaturized hair follicles will have a shortened anagen (growth) phase and an extended telogen (resting) phase within the cycle. This disruption in the hair growth cycle results in a progressive reduction in hair density and overall coverage.
Hair Growth Cycle
The natural hair growth cycle consists of 4 phases, anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen. Understanding these phases, and what takes place in each, is helpful to understand how disruptions in the cycle impact hair loss.
Anagen Phase (Growth Phase)
- The anagen phase is the active growth period of the hair cycle and can last from 2 to 7 years. During this phase, hair follicles are fully functional and produce hair at an average rate of half an inch per month. The maximum length of hair for someone is dependent on the length of the anagen phase. In conditions like androgenetic alopecia, the anagen phase becomes progressively shorter. This leads to thinner, weaker hair, and eventually hair loss.
Catagen Phase (Transition Phase)
- This phase marks the end of the active growth period and lasts for 2 to 3 weeks. During this phase, hair follicles shrink, and the hair detaches from the blood supply, transitioning to a resting phase. The catagen phase is a normal part of the hair growth cycle, but disruptions, such as stress or illness, can prematurely push hairs into this phase. This interruption in the cycle can lead to increased shedding and thinning.
Telogen Phase (Resting Phase)
- The telogen phase is a resting period that lasts for approximately 3 months. During this phase, the hair remains in the follicle but is no longer actively growing. At the end of this phase, new hair will begin to grow and push out the old hair, leading to natural shedding. If excessive shedding occurs, it may indicate conditions like telogen effluvium. This is where a higher percentage of hairs enter this phase simultaneously due to stress or illness.
Exogen Phase (Shedding Phase)
- The final phase in the hair loss cycle is the exogen phase, a sub-phase of telogen, where old hair is shed from the scalp to make room for new growth. It’s normal to lose 50-100 hairs daily during the exogen phase. Factors like genetics, hormonal imbalances, or scalp conditions can increase shedding beyond the expected levels, contributing to visible hair loss.
Normal Shedding vs Excessive Shedding
It’s normal, and expected, to lose hair every day. Most people will experience a shed of 50-100 hairs daily as part of the natural hair growth cycle. This shedding occurs during the exogen phase, when old hairs are pushed out to make room for new hair growth. Under normal conditions, the shedding is visibly unnoticeable because the new regrowth balances the shed hairs. Hair naturally cycles through the growth, transition, rest, and shedding phases, so minor shedding is part of the process.
Excessive hair shedding, outside of normal levels, can be a sign of androgenetic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness. This condition is caused by a gradual shortening of the anagen (growth) phase, and prolonged telogen (resting) phase. Over time, the affected hair follicles will shrink, producing thinner and shorter hair, until they eventually stop producing hair altogether. Unlike normal shedding, excessive shedding may be noticeable as clumps of hair in the shower or on the pillow. If there is excessive shedding, this will lead to visible changes in your appearance, with the hairline thinning or receding.
Conclusion
Hair loss can have different underlying causes, including genetics and hormones, that will cause disruption to the normal hair growth cycle. These disruptions will shorten the anagen phase and extend the telogen phase, leading to visible hair loss. To reduce or stop hair loss, treatments need to be able stop the interruption of the growth cycle allowing it to return to normal. Treatment options can vary depending on the cause of the hair cycle disruption.
Want to Learn More?
Click to view the latest scientific paper on Male Androgenetic Alopecia from the National Library of Medicine.
