The Biology of Hair Loss
Each of the scalp's roughly 100,000 follicles cycles through three phases: anagen (active growth, 2–7 years), catagen (transition, 2–3 weeks), and telogen (resting/shedding, 3 months). Healthy hair loses 50–100 strands daily — anything beyond this signals a disrupted cycle.
In androgenetic alopecia, the enzyme 5-alpha reductase converts testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which binds to genetically sensitive follicles and progressively miniaturises them. In telogen effluvium, systemic triggers — stress, illness, surgery, or nutrient deficiency — force up to 30% of follicles into the resting phase simultaneously, causing diffuse shedding 2–3 months later.
Correct identification of the mechanism determines everything: DHT-driven loss requires anti-androgens; telogen effluvium resolves with trigger removal. Treating the wrong type wastes months.
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