Hair & Scalp

Each hair strand can grow 3-6 years normally. Hair grows through a protective tube called follicle in the dermis layer. Hair forms at the bottom of the follicle, known as the dermal papilla.

Sebaceous glands (oil glands) produce an oily substance to lubricate the hair and scalp. Sweat glands excrete salty and acidic compounds produced by the scalp.

Hair Growth Cycle

Anagen: Growth Phase that lasts for 3-6 years, approximately 85-90% of all hairs in this stage,

typically hair grows 1-1.5cm per month.

Catagen: Transitional Phase takes only 1 – 3 weeks, the follicle shrinks to about 1/6 of average

length, and the hair stops growing.

Telogen: Resting Phase last about three months, about 10-15% of all hairs in this stage, the hair

does not grow and come off.

Anagen Onset: Return to Anagen Phase – New hair strand starts to form and grow. Exogen/ Early Anagen- Shedding old hair and developing new hair.

Regeneration cycle: Each follicle can produce about 20 individual hairs in a person's lifetime.

Hair & Scalp - Cause of Problems

• Accumulated excessive sebum/oil and product buildups slows down the blood circulation

and limit nutrient supply and absorption.

• When pores are plugged by the sebum/oil & build up, it causes inflammation of scalp due to microbial infections. Moreover, clogged pores affect oil glands in follicles resulting in

  an imbalance of secretion of sebum. In this stage, the scalp condition worsens, leading to

  further inflammation and abnormality in the functions that results in an acceleration of

  the follicles that progress the telogen phase faster.

• On the other hand, testosterone present in the excess sebum is converted to a potent

  androgen, known as Dihydrotestosterone “DHT” by an enzyme called 5αR in the hair

  follicle. DHT affects the cell proliferation of matrix, causing weaker hair roots with a

  shorter lifespan of the hair.

• When most hairs enter the resting stage (telogen), the hair metabolism will become un-

  stabilized, resulting in thinner and sparser hair. The weak hair stays only for a couple of

  weeks (Note: hair roots only have around 20 times of regeneration cycle). After the

  regeneration cycle is over, hair roots become dead. Therefore, there is no possibility to

  re-grow hair.

Other Factors That Trigger Hair Loss

– Stress level

– Scalp hygiene

– Hormone imbalance

– Poor diet

– Environmental pollution

– Health

– Medication

– Genetic factor etc.

Most Common Hair Loss & Disorders

ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA

Is often referred to as “Male Pattern Hair Loss (Baldness)” and “Female Pattern Hair Loss

(Baldness)”. It is the most common type of hair loss affecting men and women. It is caused by a

number of genetic and hormonal factors. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is the main hormone

responsible for Androgenetic Alopecia and is genetically susceptible individuals. DHT causes

hair loss by inducing a change in the hair follicles. The hair produced by the follicles affected by

DHT become progressively smaller until eventually the follicles shrink completely and stop

producing hair entirely. Male pattern hair loss: hair loss is temporal or frontal recession (vertex and crown) Female pattern hair loss: diffuse reduction in hair volume over mid-frontal scalp (anterior hair

line).

ALOPECIA AREATA

Is a common autoimmune skin disease, causing hair loss on the scalp. When alopecia areata

develops, the body attacks its own hair follicles. Alopecia areata is one type of hair loss typically causes patches of baldness in some cases, total baldness develops.

IRON DEFICIENCY HAIR LOSS

Is caused when the body lacks enough iron to produce hemoglobin in the blood. Hemoglobin is

the ingredient that carries oxygen for the growth and repair of all body cells including the cells

that make up hair follicles.

TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM 

Is when some stress causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into resting state. Telogen

effluvium can be acute or chronic as many as 70% of the scalp hairs are then shed in large

numbers about 2 months after the “shock”. Telogen effluvium is a reversible condition.

Conditions:

• Male Pattern Hair loss

• Female Pattern Hair loss

• Alopecia Areata (thinning hair)

• Traction Alopecia

• Telogen Effluvium

• Scarring Alopecia and more

• Severe breakage and more

• Lack of density

• Psoriasis