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Message From The Medical Director
Why is hair so important in our lives?
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 In our community, a head full of hair is associated with health, attractiveness, and strength. Stereotyped thoughts that men suffering from hair loss seem older, less attractive and even weak and unhealthy predominate in our culture.
Hair loss in women is less accepted by the community. Therefore, women are affected to a greater extent by hair loss compared to men.
However, it should be kept in mind that a head full of hair cannot always be seen as an indication of good health given that a completely healthy man or woman may also suffer from androgenic hair loss. Why do we lose hair?
The cause of hair loss for 90% of the cases in both men and women is androgenetic alopecia, also known as male pattern hair loss.
Androgenetic alopecia has genetic origins. In some men and women, hair roots are sensitive to the DH-Testosterone which is transformed from testosterone, the virility hormone.
If this hormone exceeds a certain threshold level, male pattern hair loss occurs. The reason for hair loss is not the virility hormone itself, but DH-Testosterone which is transformed from testosterone in the body.
Other reasons for hair loss are generally associated with more complex systematic health problems. These include hormone imbalances of the thyroid gland, acute shocks, blood diseases and malnutrition. Anemia and hormonal change periods are also among the leading reasons for hair loss in women.
Anatomy and hidden secrets of the hair
The hair follicle consists of a hair root which is placed approximately 4 mm under the skin, a hair fiber extending from underneath the skin and its pore, the small canal on the skin from which the hair grows.
The hair root selects proteins and matured cells from the blood, weaves keratin chains and forms a fiber-like tissue. When a hair fiber is pulled off, a white, half-clear hair shaft is observed at the end. This hair shaft is a terrific factory. Very few cells in the body have the ability of dividing so rapidly, reproducing and forming vessels as observed in hair roots.
Because of these properties HAIR CELLS CALLED DERMAL PAPILLA are regarded as very good stem cell sources. Currently, many cells can be differentiated form these units in genetic laboratories. The aim of this process is to clear the way of cloning which will lead to organ production in the new genomic era. We can say that today hair root cells have replaced fetal placentas for this process.
As the hair root cells mature the first shaft within two weeks, the superior layers of the hair become smooth, and the hair becomes slick and gains a bright appearance. It takes about one week for the hair coming out from the shaft to appear outside the skin.
Lifecycles of the hair and its endless love with the sebaceous gland
At the time the hair appears outside the skin, it is in its juvenile period which we call the ANAGEN phase. This period is estimated to last for up to 5 to 8 years in women and 3 to 5 years in men. The sebaceous gland is placed just beside the hair root. Each hair follicle has a sebaceous gland. Even if the hair gets older and enters the TELOGENIC phase or enters the CATAGEN phase in which the hair is lost, the sebaceous gland maintains its presence in the same point. If it were not for the sebaceous glands, hair fibers would be dry, fragile and sticky and humanity would not have to invent the comb. One thirds of the hair on a normal scalp at any given time is inside one of the aforementioned three phases Since not all roots enter the same phase at the same time, we do not lose our hair totally and can retain a healthy appearance.
Melike KÜLAHÇI, MD. |
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