Q&A
Q15. What is hair cycle?
Hair cycle is the cycle from the birth of a hair through its falling out. Hair cycle begins with anagen phase (the growth period) during which a hair is born and grows. Anagen phase lasts for two to five years. Anagen phase is further divided into two phases: active phase and transitional phase. Active phase is the period in which cells of hair matrix around the hair papilla proliferate whereas in transitional phase the growth rate of the hair gets slower. Thereafter the hair stops growing because of inactive cell division in hair matrix during catagen (2 – 3 weeks), followed by telogen (the period of dormancy) during which the hair “prepares” to fall out. In telogen the root of the hair is gradually pushed up to the surface of scalp, and finally it falls out three to four months after entering into telogen. In the meantime, a new hair is produced under the root of this old hair.
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