What is Normal Loss?

Hair consists of long keratin fibres, twisted rope-like and protected by an outer coating of keratinised cells. A cluster of active cells known as the dermal papilla lies just below the surface of the skin and it is from here that the hair fibre grows in its follicle or shaft.

The growing fibre becomes hardened to form the final hair structure which extrudes from the scalp. At this point the hair fibre is dead with only the root tip exhibiting living, growing cells. The number of dermal papillae is determined at birth as the body cannot produce additional clusters.

The hair growth cycle is characterized by three main stages:

1. Anagen stage
2. Catagen stage
3. Telogen stage

On average 50-100 telogen hairs are shed every day. This is normal hair loss and accounts for the hair loss seen every day in the shower and with hair combing. These hairs will regrow. Not more than 10 percent of the follicles are in the resting phase (telogen) at any time.

Abnormal hair loss can be due to many different causes, but about 50 percent of the population experience normal hair loss by the time they reach 50. People who notice their hair shedding in large amounts after combing or brushing, or whose hair becomes thinner or falls out, should consult a dermatologist.

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