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HAIR REGROWTH AND HAIR REPLACEMENT
FACTS & OPTIONS

Hair is an important part of looking and feeling good. IHRB wants you to be comfortable about the way you look and feel. With over 32 years of practical experience, we are committed to provide you with the latest and best advances in medical, surgical and other hair replacement methods.

1. DESCRIPTION OF HAIR: A human scalp contains 90 to 160 thousand hair follicles. Each strand consists of three layers-cuticle, cortex and medulla. Hair is made of a fibre protein called keratin (the same substance our finger nails are made of). The hair root can be affected by many factors including poor diet, illness, drugs and medication, excessive alcohol, nicotine and imbalance of hormones. Adjacent to the hair follicles are the sebaceous glands, producing sebum, an oily substance, lubricating the skin and hair. All the other components of the scalp can directly or indirectly affect the behavior of the hair but does not cause 'common baldness'.

2. HAIR GROWTH: Each hair grows through a follicle tube and has a cycle of growth, degeneration and replacement. The growth commences from the papilla or hair root, where the process of cell division is taking place constantly. Certain amino acids are absorbed through a network of capillaries to the hair root, feeding the dividing cells and allowing the formation of hair and growth. Between 90 to140 hairs can be shed by both males and females with a healthy head, which should be replaced between 2-3 months.

3. HAIR GROWTH CYCLE: Occurs in three stages. Anagen: The active growing phase can last from two to six years. The longer the genetically programmed anagen phase, the longer the hair. That is why some people can grow waist- long hair and others only up to their shoulders. Shaving or cutting the hair makes no difference to the density, texture, health or speed of re-growth.

Catagen: This is a transitional phase which lasts about three weeks. The ejecting hair gradually separates from the hair root, taking a globular food sac with it. Approximately one or two percent hair is in this stage.

Telogen: The final or resting phase takes about two to three months. During this phase the ejecting hair has traveled near the tapered exit end of the follicle tube and will fall out in the normal manner, helped by brushing, washing and combing. Approximately fifteen percent of hairs are in this stage.

During this stage a new hair has commenced it's growth at the hair root and will travel up the follicle tube to take it's place- this completes the cycle and the Anagen phase recommences. Any change in one of these phases can alter the growth cycle. Baldness is caused when more hair is lost then is being replaced. Below is a diagram showing the three different stages:-

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