Hair Overview and Growth Tips
Hair Overview
Hair has several functions:
- protects us from UV radiation and this helps to prevent skin cancers on the scalp
- keeps our scalp warm
- produces sebum (natural oil substance)
Hair Cycle
The hair cycle is divided into 4 phases: anagen (growth), catagen (transition), telogen (rest), and exogen (shedding).
- Hair from the scalp sheds ~100 to 200 follicles/day and grows about 1 cm/month, or 15 cm/year.
Hair Growth Tips
- Daily Scalp massages for 4 mins a day have been shown to increase hair thicken and growth by increasing blood flow to the hair follicles
- Try topical growth boosters: such as DCC Rosemary growth oil or see a board certified cosmetic dermatologist about Plasma Rich Platelet therapy. Both of Rosemary and PRP treatments have been shown to promote hair growth in humans!
- Reduce inflammation: by limiting how much you style your hair, tight hairstyles, controlling health conditions like diabetes, and IBD.
- Work with your doctor to regulate your hormones (thyroid hormone, testosterone, estrogen, etc.).
- REDUCE bad stress in your life: via exercise, yoga, dancing, meditation, prayer, crochet, walking, hiking, etc. Whatever brings you peace without ingesting toxins (alcohol, THC, etc.).
- Ask your doctor for nutritional recommendations/ to see a dietitian to correct nutritional deficiency.
- IMPROVE your sleep quality. Talk to your doctor about medication and non-medication treatment options.
- If you take medications, ask your doctor if there are any side effects on hair growth.
References:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499948/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9917549/
Images:
- https://www.fresnohair.com/blog/growth-cycle
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9917549/