Hair follicles play a key role in the cycles of hair growth. They are very simple in structure, but actually they are the key to anchor each hair — healthy follicles healthy hairs. Normally, at any given time, they shrink to trigger new hair shaft to grow. How about dead follicles? Can they grow back?
Hair follicles – how do they affect the cycle of your hair growth?
The soles of feet and the palms of hands may be the areas of the body where hair cannot grow. Most sites of your skin have follicles, but most hair shaft (the hair you see) on each follicle are virtually invisible.
The hair is made by protein called keratin. Even experts say that most of hair is protein. And keratin is made in the follicles to produce new cells and promote hair growth.
As new cells are being produced in follicles, old cells are being driven out through the skin’s surface for new hair growth – the rate of this growth is about 6 inches per year [1]. So, hair shaft is actually derived from the string of dead keratin cells.
On average, the head of adults (men and women) have about 100,000 – 150,000 hairs. And it’s normal to lose about 100 of them a day.
In other words, losing some hair for about less than 100 per day is still categorized normal, there is not only about the phase of growing. Naturally, your follicles also need to perform a phase called telogen or ‘resting phase’ for new hair regeneration.
*Image credit to WebMD
Each follicle is naturally designed with its own life cycle. Several factors affect this cycle, such as age, certain diseases, hormonal fluctuation, or something else.
Although some hair follicles are going to ‘dormant’, resting phase – thankfully most of follicles go with anagen phase (the active growth phase). So normally, you will not notice that you lose your hairs, because you still have most of them on your scalp.
Telogen phase usually lasts for a couple of months, about 2-3 months. In the end of this phase, the hair shaft is shed and replaced by new hair growth.
Anagen phase will usually lasts in years, about 2-6 years or probably longer. Between telogen and anagen phase, there is a transition phase called ‘catagen’.
During catagen phase, the growth of hair goes slower than usual followed with the shrinkage of the follicle. This phase is a short transition, typically lasts for about 2-3 weeks.
Can dead hair follicles grow back naturally?
The answer is dependent on the cause of the problem. Furthermore, this issue is also still debatable.
While some experts say that dead hair follicle can not be revived, others say that there is a chance to revive it.
Your risk of having some dead hair follicles may increases as you age. Because as you get older, the risk of exposing to poor hair style /treatments or other trigger factors increases!
And this may get worse when you have a family history of hair loss problem [2]. In fact, hereditary hair loss and scarring are two common factors that can cause dead follicles.
If a genetic trait affects the problem, it’s more difficult to be treated. Hair loss problem with a genetic trait might require hair transplantation.
However, there are some medicines with the FDA approval, such as Finasteride and Minoxidil. Even Finasteride is recommended for the first line treatment when the onset symptom of baldness (such as receding hairline) occurs [3].
How long does it take for a hair follicle to regrow?
When this question points to the normal life cycle of follicles, the answer is relatively easier. As noted before, in telogen phase, the hair growth stops and old hair fall out which then will be replaced with new hair. This phase can take for about 2 to 3 months.
But if hair follicle is damaged or dead, the underlying cause and the kind of treatment that you take would play a role in the prognosis and outlook.
What’s more?
good day
my son lost his hair while he was 7 months , he fell on the heater and he has a scare on his back has no hair .
please help what should he use he is 14 years now.
From brief summary you explained, it seems the problem is a kind of scarring hair loss. In such case, a comprehensive evaluation is usually required see a dermatologist for more guidance. Treatment depends on several factors, the main one is the severity of the scare. If there is no chance for hair growth to come back, hair transplantation would be suggested (this option is usually recommended over 30 years old). Meanwhile, it’s not bad idea to wait & see!
Hi, I am 31 years old guy, 9 years back I weighed about 65 kgs and within a month, I lost around 15 to 20 kgs and at that time I shaved my head. Immediately after few days I noticed my scalp is shaped out and I lost hair follicles on front and center. Now I have weak hair on sides. I can notice bald lines and spots on my center scalp and shaped out hair line on sides. Can I grow my dead hair follicles and grow hair back? I don’t have genetic baldness..
First things first, not all people with male pattern baldness have family history of the condition. However, the risk increases more greatly if you have genetic trait!
If you don’t have genetic baldness, other factors are to blame and changes of your weight could be one of them. See a dermatologist for accurate diagnosis!
my hair is getting very thin. I was doing testosterone pallets for about 3 years now and my hair is so thin. I feel the doctor gave to much. and now DHT has cause my hair to fall out male balding and thinning in the crown.Now I’m wearing a wig. Now whats left Bosley hair replacement put on with Polymer. Is this a good idea?
Well, there is a mixed online customer reputation about Bosley hair replacement. So it’s not easy to figure out whether it is your best bet.
I am 17 years old and am not noticing any active hair growth on my scalp… I can see some hairs coming out in the front but most of the hair lost from the middle is not getting regenerated. I can see a white bulbous stuff at the roots of my hair when they come out. I don’t have any genetic hair problem.Please tell me what to do. I shall be grateful to you
Baldness is not fully understood yet, though it’s often associated with genetic factor. Also, it’s necessary to have comprehensive assessment of any factors that may contribute to your hair loss (e.g. genetic factor, diet, certain medical conditions (if you have), or if you’re taking certain medications).
Since you’re still at 17, it’s probably too early to have a conclusion. It’s not bad idea to wait and see! Or see a dermatologist for comprehensive assessment!
My 7 year old daughters hairline has not regrown hair in 10months after she had a hairstyle that pulled the hair off. Does this mean her hair follicles are dead?
This would be dependent on the severity of the problem. Hairline in school-aged child is also not mature yet, so it’s not bad idea to have wait-and-see option. However if you in-doubt to the problem, see a dermatologist!
Also, it’s important to make sure it has nothing to do with Trichotillomania (hair pulling ‘Habit’) since repetitive and prolonged pulled hairs may lead to serious damage to the hair follicles!
Hi! Im 23, taking HRT Male to Female. I would like to ask if I’m taking 12.5mg Cyproterone Acetate as my Anti-androgen, is it enough to block DHT(cause of male pattern baldness)? is it okay not to take Finasteride or Avodart since i’m already taking Anti-androgen Cyproterone Acetate? does taking Cyproterone Acetate would grow new and thicker hairs? Thank you!
Cyproterone Acetate might help stimulate hair growth, and ‘yes’ it works in blocking DHT.
But it also carries a number of serious side effects, and currently not approved for the use in some countries (including in the United States). For this reason, it’s not clear yet whether it’s good for hair loss treatment.
how about Spironolactone, is it safer? is it as effective as Cyproterone for treating male pattern hair loss?
Spironolactone is likely effective for female pattern hair loss (confirmed by several studies here and here). And typically prescribed when the problem doesn’t respond to conventional treatments (e.g. minoxidil).
Does it also work for male pattern hair loss? It is commonly not prescribed for men, so it’s much better to look for other treatments — This article might help!
Hi,
My girlfriend underwent the first few rounds of permanent hair removal treatment in her underarms, but we discussed it and she stopped. She still has some hair there but it is thinner than before. Is there any plausible way to, if not restore her to how she was originally, at least improve volume and density? Or will she be stuck this way forever?
Cheers
Hi Michael,
Well, that’s a tough question to answer since each case varies — e.g. the kind of treatment, the type of hair, etc. But in general, any hair removal that causes a destroyed hair follicle is likely to become permanent.
In the first few rounds of permanent hair removal treatment, treatment usually causes damaged (not destroyed) hair follicles. So it’s likely possible to see hairs to grow back, though probably it’s less noticeable (lighter) than before.
Thanks for letting me know and for the promptness of your response. That’s (somewhat) reassuring to hear.
Hi I have scaring aelopecia firm ly hair being pulled out. So now 50% of my scalp is bald. Is there any chance of ever having a full head of hair again? I am a woman and actually it is devastating to look in the mirror.presently I have wigs and hair pieces from Hans Weimann
It usually depends on the severity of your scarring alopecia. Since the problem may cause a lot of damage, treatment would be quite aggressive – consult more with your dermatologist for more advice!