About your Hair and Hair Loss:

Our human hair is produced by hair follicles (indentations of the epidermis) that contain the hair root, the muscle attached to it, and sebaceous, or oil, glands. Hair is made up of dead cells filled with proteins, most which are known as keratin's. The cells are woven together like a rope to form the hair fiber. The hair fiber, in turn, has three layers: the outer cuticle with its fish-scale like structure, the cortex, which contains the bulk of the fiber: and the center, or medulla. Hair color is determined by melanocytes, cells that produce pigment.

It may seem that your hair is always growing however hair grows in a cyclical fashion with active and rest phases. The growth phase known as "Anagen", last for two to six years. At any given time, about 90 percent of scalp hair is in the Anagen phase. The remainder is the rest phase known as "Telogen"; this lasts from two to three months.

Typically the growth cycle is repeated without any changes in these phases and your hair remains healthy. However most of us experience some change in these phases due to either genetic or environmental conditions. Hair color and texture is also related to these three phases. In some cases after the age of 20 a change in the phases may occur. This is a natural tendency that typically continues changes with aging.

If the rate of growth in the Anagen phase decrease and/or the period or resting in the Telogan phase increases the new hair produced by the follicle becomes smaller, shorter and more fragile. Again, this is a natural tendency but in many cases is accelerated by inherited male or female pattern baldness, environment effects or hormonal imbalances.

In addition exposure to background radiation, ultraviolet light, intense heat or cold, mutagenic chemicals, free radicals, abnormal pH levels or poor circulation may cause adverse effects on hair follicles that result in hair thinning, loss or baldness.

Men lose there hair mostly from the front and top areas of the head, while Women lose hair more evenly throughout.

Human causes of hair loss:

1. Imbalanced Diet: A poor diet will leads to nutrient malnutrition. Hair follicles receiving an insufficient supply of protein shortens the Anagan phase and lengthens the Telogan phase producing a shorter, thinner hair. Hair loss may result if protein malnutrition continues.
2. Stress: Stress, either physical or emotional may cause hair loss. Particularly stress that may come through with weight changes may cause hair loss.
3. Chemical Damage: Chemicals used in shampoo, dyeing, waving or chlorinated pool water have been shown to cause adverse effects on hair follicles leading to damaged or thinning hair.
4. Heating of the Scalp: The Hot Sun, curling irons and blow dryers create high temperatures that damage the hair and can weaken hair follicles resulting in thinning or loss of hair.
5. Medications & Cancer: Chemotherapy or the continuos use of large dosages of medication may effect the physiological processes of hair follicles and will lead to temporary thinning and lost hair.
6. Fever: High Fevers lasting more than several days may cause a temporary loss of hair due to the excessive temperature of the scalp and interruption of the 3 phases.
7. Pregnancy: During pregnancy the hair follicle changes to the Telogan or resting phase to preserve protein for the fetus. This is commonly followed by hair loss at the end of the pregnancy.
8. Hair Damage: Hair weaving, braiding or other forms of pulling on the hair may damage the structure leading to loss.

Conclusion

Hair follicles are typically weakened through the above mentioned causes. A weakened follicle is still capable of producing stem cells which leads to hair. Sometimes follicles are damaged, leaving them unable to produce a stem cell or hair, these are considered dead.

Aangsana- Primavera an all natural formula of herbs and flowers was created to cool, cleanse and strengthen damaged or weakened hair follicles. This process stops hair loss, strengthens hair follicles, allowing new hair growth.

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Last modified: July 11, 1997