Have you ever wondered how and where these hairs grow? When we comb our hair, or even just touch it, hairs fall out. Sometimes you may have noticed that the root of the hair is like a white ball. So many people are afraid, "Oh, it fell out from the root, will the hair never grow back?" The reason for that is the hair follicle that we are talking about today, which is called `(Hair Follicle)` in English. Don't worry, we will talk about everything clearly.
What is a hair follicle?
Simply put, a hair follicle is a small tube-like structure that surrounds the root of your hair shaft and the hair shaft, and is located inside the skin. To be precise, it's located inside the top two layers of our skin. Think of it like a sock. Your leg is the hair shaft. The sock that holds that leg is the hair follicle. So the hair shaft is located inside this sock called the hair follicle.
When we are all born, we have over 5 million hair follicles throughout our bodies, and over a million on our heads alone. As we age, it is from these hair follicles that hair grows upward.
The special thing about these hair follicles is that they can stop functioning and then start working again. This process is what helps our hair grow back even when it falls out.
What are the main functions of the hair follicle?
The main and most familiar function of a hair follicle is to grow hair, but this tiny structure also performs several other important functions.
- Helping to heal wounds: When your skin is injured, cells from hair follicles near the wound are the ones that rush in and start the healing process. It's like our emergency medical service.
- New blood vessel formation: We call this process ``angiogenesis.`` The cells in these hair follicles also contribute to the formation of new blood vessels where the body needs them.
- Formation of new nerve cells: Similarly, these help in the formation of new cells in the nervous system, a process called ``neurogenesis''.
How does the hair growth cycle happen?
Hair growth doesn't happen all at once. It happens in a cycle. There are three main stages to this cycle. Let's take a look at what they are.
| Phase | Duration | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Anagen Growth phase | From 2 to 7 years | This is the time when the hair follicle is actively growing. The root of the hair follicle receives a good blood supply. During this time, the hair grows about one centimeter per month. |
| Catagen Transitional phase | About 2 weeks | This is a very short period of time. During this time, the hair follicle stops growing and the hair follicle is cut off from the blood supply. |
| Telogen Resting phase | Up to 4 months | During this time, the hair follicles are dormant and do not grow. When a new hair follicle starts to grow, the old hair follicles are shed automatically. We lose about 50-100 hair follicles per day during this stage. |
What happens if you pull out a hair from the root?
This is the problem that many people have. When you pull a hair, you can't pull out the white ball at the root, because it's embedded deep inside your skin. That white ball is just the root of the hair. Pulling it out doesn't harm the hair follicle.
So don't worry, most of the time a new hair will grow back from that spot. But it's not a good idea to keep pulling or plucking hair in the same spot. Doing so can damage the hair follicle and reduce hair growth in those areas.
What are the common conditions that affect hair follicles?
There are various medical conditions that affect our hair follicles. You may have heard of some of these.
- Alopecia areata: A condition in which hair falls out in patches.
- Baldness: A condition that can affect both men and women.
- Folliculitis: Infection of the hair follicles, resulting in small, red, painful blisters.
- Hidradenitis suppurativa: A condition in which painful bumps form due to blocked hair follicles in areas such as the armpits and groin.
- Stress: Excessive stress can increase hair loss.
- Telogen effluvium: A sudden, large amount of hair loss caused by a trauma to the body (e.g., major illness, surgery, childbirth).
- Whiteheads, blackheads: The openings of hair follicles become blocked with oil and dead cells.
If you suspect you have this condition, the best thing to do is to see your doctor for advice.
How does a doctor diagnose these conditions?
When you go to see a doctor, he or she will likely run several tests to find out exactly what these conditions are.
1. Physical examination: First, your doctor will carefully examine your scalp, hair, and skin. He or she will also ask about your medical history.
2. Pull and tug test: In this test, the doctor will grab a small section of your hair and pull it. They will then see how many hairs come out. This will give you an idea of how well your hair is growing.
3. Blood tests: Blood tests can be done to check for other medical conditions (e.g., hormonal imbalances, vitamin deficiencies) that could be causing your symptoms.
4. Skin biopsy: In some cases, a very small piece of skin from the scalp is taken and examined under a microscope. This can help determine exactly what damage has occurred to the hair follicles.
How to keep hair follicles healthy and strong?
The health of our hair depends on the health of our hair follicles. So there are some simple things we can do to keep them strong.
- Eat a balanced diet: It is very important to eat a well-balanced diet that contains protein, iron, zinc, and vitamins.
- Reduce stress: Relax your mind through things like yoga and meditation. Stress is one of the biggest enemies of hair.
- Be gentle with your hair: Avoid pulling or tugging your hair. Also, avoid tying your hair tightly.
- Protect your skin from the sun: Using sunscreen on your head or wearing a hat can help reduce damage to your hair follicles.
- Stay properly clean: Keeping your scalp clean can help prevent infections like folliculitis.
What happens to hair follicles when there is an injury? Hair follicles are usually able to heal themselves when there is an injury. However, if there is a major injury and a scar is formed, it may be difficult for hair to grow back in the scar.
Take-Home Message
- The hair follicle is the 'factory' inside your skin where hair is made.
- When a hair falls out, don't be alarmed if there is a white ball at the root. It's not the hair follicle that has fallen out, it's just the root of the hair. Often, a new hair will grow from there.
- Good nutrition and mental well-being are very important for healthy hair follicles.
- If you are experiencing unusual hair loss, scalp itching, blisters, or other problems, see your doctor immediately .
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