Hair
HAIR
- Hair is made of a tough protein called keratin.
- A hair follicle anchors each hair into the skin.
- The hair bulb forms the base of the hair follicle.
- In the hair bulb, living cells divide and grow to build the hair shaft.
- Blood vessels nourish the cells in the hair bulb, and deliver hormones that modify hair growth and structure at different times of life.
CONCEPT OF HAIR IN AYURVEDA
Hair- ‘kesha’ is considered as a Upadhatu (sub-tissue ) of Asthi (Bone). Also considered as Mala (waste product) of Shukra dhatu(Reproductive system)
Hair growth occurs in 3 phases
- Anagen (growth phase): Most hair is growing at any given time. Each hair spends several years in this phase.
- Catagen (transitional phase): Over a few weeks, hair growth slows and the hair follicle shrinks.
- Telogen (resting phase): Over months, hair growth stops and the old hair detaches from the hair follicle. A new hair begins the growth phase, pushing the old hair out.
- The average hair growth-rate is around one-half inch per month.
- Hair color is created by pigment cells producing melanin in the hair follicle. With aging, pigment cells die, and hair turns gray.
HAIR FALL
- Losing hair on a gradual basis
- Hair fall is visible on strands
- Hair Loss is visible on the scalp.
- Recurrent hairfall indicates the need for a good and healthy diet
- Also to reduce the level of stress and anxiety in your life.
- Weakening of the hair occurs
- In Ayurveda, hair fall is called ‘kesha patana’
HAIR LOSS
- Hair will either not grow again or will grow slowly.
- Hereditary factors can induced hair loss
- Certain medical conditions can also induced hair loss
- Hair Loss may be correlated as ‘kesha nashta’
HOW TO UNDERSTAND IF IT’S HAIR FALL OR HAIR LOSS?
- Hair fall is an entire process in itself.
- It can be both normal and abnormal.
- Our hair grows for 3-4 yrs, then it goes to the regression phase
- Then the falling stage, so in the next three months, it can fall anytime.
- The new hair is responsible for the fall of existing hair.
- So if hair fall is less than 100, then it’s considered a normal
- if it exceeds the 100 mark, it’s abnormal
- Eventually hair loss leads to visible bald patches.