We all love our hair and body hair, right? For some, having beautiful, long hair is a dream. But have you ever thought about how these hair follicles grow and the little 'houses' they have? In medicine , the small tube-like part that surrounds the roots of those hair follicles is called the hair follicle, or `(Hair Follicle)`. Simply put, this is the 'house' of the hair follicle. Today, let's learn everything about these hair follicles.
What is this hair follicle? Let's find out exactly!
Think of a hair follicle as a small tube or hole in your skin. Inside this is the root of the hair and the hair shaft. It's like a flower in a pot. These hair follicles are located in the top two layers of our skin.
Did you know? When we are born, we have over 5 million hair follicles all over our bodies! And there are over a million on our heads alone. As we grow older, hair grows out of these follicles.
Another amazing thing about these hair follicles is that they can stop functioning and then start functioning again . It's like sleeping and waking up again. This ability is what keeps our hair growing.
What is the importance of the hair follicle? That is, what does it do?
The main function of a hair follicle is to grow your hair . But not only that, but these little things also do several other important things.
- Helps the skin heal faster when injured: If your skin gets a wound or scratch, the cells in the hair follicles help it heal faster.
- Helps create new blood vessels: We also call this ``angiogenesis``.
- It also helps create new nervous system cells: this is called ``neurogenesis''.
Look at how much this little hair follicle does! It doesn't just produce hair.
How do hair follicles help heal wounds?
Imagine that you have a small wound on your arm or leg. Then, the cells in the hair follicles closest to the wound are the ones that are activated and rush to the site of the wound . Once there, the healing process begins. These hair follicle cells also help the white blood cells of our immune system. They work like a small army to heal the wound.
How does a hair follicle grow into a hair shaft? This is also very amazing!
Hair growth does not happen all at once. It happens through several cycles. These cycles can be divided into three main parts:
1. Anagen Phase: This is the main period of hair growth . This can last anywhere from two to seven years. Imagine how long that is! This growth begins at the root of the hair follicle, called the dermal papilla. This is where the hair follicle gets its blood supply and nutrients. On average, hair grows about one centimeter per month.
2. Catagen phase: This is the period when the hair follicle transitions from growth to a resting phase . This lasts about two weeks. During this period, the hair follicle is separated from its blood supply.
3. Telogen phase: This is the most inactive phase of hair growth . During this phase, the hair follicles are released and shed. It is during this phase that hair falls out when we comb our hair or shower. This phase can last for about four months.
This cycle continues, which is why we grow new hair and lose old hair.
Where are hair follicles located?
Simply put, wherever you have hair on your body, there is a hair follicle . These start in the top layer of our skin, the epidermis, and the second layer, the dermis. The hair follicles that contain the thicker hairs (called terminal hairs) on our scalp, eyelashes, and eyebrows sometimes extend all the way down to the third layer of skin, the subcutaneous tissue.
What does a hair follicle look like?
A hair follicle is a long tube that holds a hair shaft. It's shaped like a cylinder, with a round bottom, inside the skin. The top of the cylinder is an open hole. That's where the hair shaft comes out. Think of it like a sock. Your leg is the hair shaft, and the sock is the hair follicle.
What does it look like if a hair follicle falls out along with a hair?
This is where a lot of people make a mistake. You can't actually pull out a hair follicle . Because it's a structure inside the skin that holds the hair shaft. When you pull out a hair shaft, you might see a little ball at the end, or a root. That's where the nerve fibers are located. That's why you feel your hair move, or if someone touches it. When you pull out the hair shaft, the hair shaft doesn't grow back . Because the hair follicle is right there. It grows a new hair shaft.
What color are hair follicles?
Although your hair color may change throughout your life, because the hair follicle is part of your skin, its color is the same as your natural skin color. This means that there is no connection between the color of the hair follicle and the color of the hair shaft .
How big is a hair follicle?
Not every hair follicle on the body is the same size. It varies depending on the size of the cells that make up its base. However, hair follicles are so small that they can only be seen with a microscope . We can't see them just by looking at the skin.
What are hair follicles made of?
A hair follicle is made up of several layers of cells located deep within the layers of our skin. These cells come together to form a tube-like structure that holds the hair shaft.
What are the common conditions that affect hair follicles?
Unfortunately, there are several medical conditions that can affect the health of our hair follicles. Some of them are:
- Alopecia areata: This is characterized by patchy, circular hair loss.
- Baldness: This can happen to both women and men.
- Folliculitis: This is when the hair follicles become infected, red, and sometimes appear as small pimples filled with pus. This can be seen when shaving.
- Hidradenitis suppurativa: This is a condition in which the hair follicles associated with the sweat glands become blocked, causing painful, large bumps. They are most common in areas such as the armpits and groin.
- Stress: Excessive stress can also cause hair loss and weakening of hair follicles.
- Telogen effluvium: This is a sudden, massive loss of hair. This condition can occur after a fever, major surgery, or childbirth.
- Whiteheads, blackheads, or dilated pores of Winer: These are also problems associated with the hair follicles.
What are the symptoms of these diseases?
Symptoms may vary for each disease, but some common symptoms include:
- Hair loss, thinning hair, or limited hair growth.
- Acne, fluid-filled blisters, or other spots on the skin.
- Swelling (doctors call this `inflammation`).
- An itchy, red rash.
- A wound that does not heal, has a yellow crust, or is oozing white/yellow fluid (this could be a sign of infection).
What tests are available to check the health of hair follicles?
To accurately diagnose a disease, you need to do the right tests. When you go to see a doctor, he will first examine your skin and hair. Then he will ask about your medical history and whether anyone in your family has had similar problems. Then, if necessary, he may do the following tests:
- Blood tests: A small amount of blood is taken from you to check for any conditions that may be causing your symptoms. Examples include an ANA test, a complete blood count (CBC), tests to check for anemia, and a C-reactive protein test.
- Skin biopsy: A small piece of skin is taken and examined under a microscope to see if there are any changes in the cells.
- Pull and tug test: The doctor will take a small section of your hair and gently pull it to see how many hairs are pulled out. This will be done in several areas of your head.
What are the treatments for hair follicle diseases?
Treatment varies from person to person. It depends on your symptoms and the nature of the disease. Some common treatments include:
- Medicines that reduce swelling and inflammation, for example `(corticosteroids)`.
- One of the most popular hair growth-promoting products is minoxidil.
- Itching medicine.
- Remove blemishes with cleansers or creams containing `(salicylic acid)`, `(azelaic acid)` or `(benzoyl peroxide)`.
- If there are bacterial infections, they are treated with antibiotics.
- Psychological counseling to reduce stress.
- In some cases, hair transplant is performed.
How do we keep our hair follicles strong?
There are things we can do to keep our hair follicles healthy and strong. To do this, we need to take good care of our hair and skin.
- Avoid pulling your hair: Avoid tying your hair tightly and constantly pulling your hair.
- Eat a good, balanced diet: Eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals.
- Reduce stress: Things like meditation and exercise can help with this.
- Wear protective gear like a helmet when playing sports or riding a bike: Head injuries can damage hair follicles.
- Wear sunscreen when going out in the sun: Protect your skin from the sun's harmful UV rays.
- If you get a wound, clean it thoroughly and apply proper medication.
Will hair follicles heal and grow hair again when injured?
Yes, in most cases it is possible. If your hair follicles are damaged in an accident, they can repair themselves and regrow hair. However, depending on the nature of the accident, it can take up to four years for new hair to grow back.
But remember, when the skin and hair follicles are repeatedly damaged, scars can form in those areas. Then it is difficult for hair to grow. Even if such hair does grow, it can be very thin and weak hair. Because of this, there is a possibility that hair will fall out in the injured area.
Finally, remember this (Take-Home Message)
So, now you understand that the hair follicle is a very amazing and very important part of our skin that is responsible for the growth of our hair. If you accidentally pull out a hair and the end looks like a bulb, don't worry. You didn't remove the hair follicle, you just removed the hair root. The root will grow back, and the hair will grow back.
However, if you feel like you're not getting hair where you used to have it, or if you notice anything else unusual, be sure to see a doctor for advice . Because the sooner you identify the problem, the better the treatment. So, take good care of your hair and skin!
` Hair follicles, hair, hair growth, skin health, hair loss, folliculitis, alopecia
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න