Hair Growth - Information on Hair Growth

How fast does hair grow? The rate of hair growth varies considerably but on an average it is one cm per month. The growth is greater in summer than in winter. It is maximum in the ages between 15-30 years. Cutting or shaving does not make hair grow faster. Neither does trimming affect the growth rate in any way (though trimming does make your hair look good by eliminating the straggly ends).

Each hair undergoes cyclic activity in three phases: the growth phase or anagen lasts for 3-4 years; following anagen is a short period of transition or catagen, following which is the phase of telogen or resting. During the resting phase (2-3 months) the hair becomes detached from its root and falls but, as a new growing hair replaces it in the follicle.

At given time, 10-15% of the scalp hair are in an inactive phase, ready to fall out, while the remaining are in various stages of growth. A loss of up to 100 hairs per day is normal and is something you should not worry about asmost of the lost hair would be replaced. With age, however, the rate of replacement slows down; so as you grow older, there is a natural tendency of some amount of sparseness.

Hair growth begins when cells of the epidermal layer of the skin grow down into the dermis, forming a small tube called the hair follicle. The rate of hair growth varies considerably but on an average it is one cm per month. The growth is greater in summer than in winter. Hair growth begins from a small capped-shaped cluster of cells called the hair papilla, which is located at the base of the follicle. The papilla is nourished by a dermal blood vessel. A variety of factors can affect the hair growth cycle and cause temporary or permanent hair loss including medication, radiation, chemotherapy, exposure to chemicals, hormonal and nutritional factors, thyroid disease, generalized or local skin disease, and stress. Androgens are the most important control factors of human hair growth. Growth of scalp hair is not androgen-dependent but androgens are necessary for the development of male and female pattern hair loss.

Common hair problems

• Dandruff.
• Discoid Lupus Erythematosus.
• Fungus Infection.
• Impetigo.
• Pseudopelade of Brocq.
• Folliculitis.

Hair growing tips

Here are some other hair growing tips:

• Exercise can deplete some nutrients.
• Eat a healthy diet. Avoid foods that are high in sugar or fat.
• Avoid use of hot water, hot blow dryers or other hair care tools that may stress the hair.
• Have a weekly scalp massage to provide stimulation to the hair follicles.
• Apply moderation to your consumption of junk foods.
• Get plenty of rest and sleep to allow your body to grow hair.

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