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How the Growth of Hair Is Affected by the Factors Associated With Aging

With aging comes several physical, psychological and social changes. Some of theses changes, such as gains in wisdom, expand and continue to grow while others, such as looks, decline. They vary for men and women, but both sexes battle to preserve both vitality and appearance. Consequently, consumers spend mega bucks each year to prevent and reverse signs of aging, including thinning and loss of hair.

  1. Hair Cycles

    • Hair growth experiences three cycles: anagen, catagen and telogen. In the anagen cycle, the hair grows. In between the anagen and telogen cycles the hair follicles shrink. This is the catagen or transition cycle which lasts about two to three weeks. The hair rests in the telogen cycle for two to three months and will re-enter the anagen cycle with a small percentage falling out and being replaced with new growth. About 10 percent of hair at any given time is in the resting cycle. It is when one of these cycles goes awry that you may experience hair loss.

    Hair Loss in Men and Women

    • With age, women tend to notice thinning on one third or one half of the head, whereas men's hair typically recedes at the hair line or crown of the head. This male and female pattern balding (androgenic alopecia) can occur at any time, but more commonly after the age 40. Hair loss naturally occurs in your 50s and 60s, and women may experience hair loss during menopause.

    Contributing Factors to Hair Loss

    • The risks for hair loss increases because of illness, infection, extreme stress and physical trauma. These factors --- along with an excessive intake of Vitamin A, pregnancy, chemicals, medications, skin conditions or rapid weight loss --- can cause hair loss. Hair loss can also occur months after experiencing surgery. Tight hairstyles (cornrows and braids) can lead to hair loss known as traction alopecia. However, the three main components that lead to hair loss are advancing age, an inherited tendency to bald and a surfeit of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the hair follicle, reducing hair follicle size, producing weaker hair and shorter anagen growing cycles, in turn shedding more hair and hair that is too weak to survive daily wear.

    Solutions

    • You can help defend against hair loss from age and other causes by: washing hair to remove excessive sebum (oil produced by glands that can clog hair follicle); vigorously exercising to lower DHT (DHT reduces follicle size resulting in thinning hair) levels in the scalp; using topical shampoos and medications that aid in delivering more oxygen, nutrients and blood flow to the follicle; hair transplantation and hair multiplication therapies; laser therapy to stimulate hair follicles; massaging scalp with certain oils; applying caffeine based products to the scalp; avoiding vigorous towel drying, brushing, chemicals, heating appliances, harsh hair sprays and other products; conditioning and protecting hair from sun and pool chlorine; and maintaining a diet high in antioxidants and low in fat and cholesterol.

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