What is a hair root?
There are around 75,000 to 150,000 hair roots, also known as hair follicles, on the human scalp. They reach deep into the lower layers of the skin and are anchored in the dermis. The papilla is located at the lower end of the hair follicle. Horn cells, which are rich in keratin, are produced there. The newly formed cells push existing cells towards the scalp and hair growth begins. The basic prerequisite for healthy hair growth is a sufficient supply of nutrients to the hair root. The hair root is connected to the blood supply via the so-called papilla. The hair root is supplied with nutrients via tiny vessels, which stimulate the production of new cells.
Does the hair root fall out with the hair?
If you take a closer look at a hair that has fallen out, you will often discover a small, white thickening at the end of it. Many people assume that this is the hair root. This assumption is not entirely correct: while the visible part of the hair falls out at the end of the growth cycle, the majority of the hair root remains intact. The thickening is usually the hair bulb. A new hair bulb is formed within the hair root during the growth phase. Residue from hairspray or mousse can also be deposited as small beads at the ends of the hair. Sometimes, however, the thickening of the shed hair has less harmless causes: fungal or hair root diseases can lead to the formation of nodules. Anyone who fears an illness should consult a dermatologist. Although the hair root does not fall out, it can certainly atrophy. The hair then falls out at shorter intervals and eventually stops growing at all.
Are hair roots capable of regeneration?
The various hair growth processes do not take place synchronously, but at different times. Therefore, hair does not normally fall out all at the same time. A daily loss of less than 100 hairs is therefore considered normal and harmless. The hair follicle usually regenerates itself and produces new hair. However, if the hair becomes noticeably thinner or falls out in clumps over a longer period of time, there is usually a disturbance in the cell metabolism at the hair root. The hair growth cycle has been thrown out of balance and the hair root is no longer supplied with the necessary nutrients. As a result, the development of new hair cells comes to a standstill until it stops completely at some point. In the case of hereditary hair loss, the root and follicle react hypersensitively to the hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone). As a result, the fine blood vessels that supply the hair root with nutrients recede. The hair follicles remain undersupplied and are unable to regenerate. In the case of scarring hair loss, the hair follicles are destroyed by inflammatory processes and scar tissue forms on the affected areas of the scalp.