The Hair Cycle Microscopy & Nutrition
The hair bulb undergoes progressive changes during its growth cycle. Here are the different stages of hair growth.
Anagen Stage:
During the growing stage, the hair bulb will be straight and well-rounded, with a bell or dome shape. A very young bulb may show the indentation where its base fitted over the dermal papilla. Later in the anagen stage, the base of the bulb will be rounded off or flattened.
The internal root sheath forms a sack-like enclosure of the bulb from the base of the papilla to the opening of the sebaceous gland. If the hair is plucked carefully, it may be possible to see this encompassing sheath. In other hairs, the inner root sheath may be visible, but torn, or it may be absent entirely.
Catagen Stage:
At the beginning of the catagen transition, the bulb loses its well-rounded figure and begins constricting into a more pointed shape. The inner root sheath begins to droop toward the bottom of the bulb. In the plucked hair, the inner root sheath may be missing entirely. All evidence of cell proliferation and melanogenesis is gone. The hair bulb and shaft both look keratinised. The hair looks foreshortened.
As the hair progresses to the late catagen or early telogen stage, the bulb becomes more pointed and begins to look frayed. The drooping inner root sheath takes on a dry, shrivelled appearance at the base of the bulb, which is unpigmented.
Telogen Stage:
As the telogen phase progresses, the point-like branching of the hair bulb begins to resemble a broom. The root sheath becomes a skinny, tail-like projection from the very base of the bulb. Again, there is no evidence of cellular or pigment activity and now this part of the hair is fully keratinised.
The Head and Neck
The hairs of the scalp have their muscle supply from an involuntary muscle called the arrector pili. Its action is the erection of the hair. It slants from the papillary layer of the dermis to the connective tissue outside the hair follicle where it is attached just below the entrance of the sebaceous gland.
The hair and scalp are richly supplied with nerve endings, particularly those reporting sensory information. Both sensation and motor impulses are supplied from the cranial nerves, which emerge from the brain through tiny foramina, or openings, in the forehead, cheeks, and jaw and at the base of the skull.
In some cases, Alopecia, or baldness, may appear days or even months after an injury. The nerve-related alteration occurs when the sympathetic nervous system responds to stress conditions somewhere in the body; alterations can also reflect endocrine gland changes.
Nutrition
Proteins are vital requisites for life and one of the challenges facing mankind today is ensuring an adequate supply of proteins to meet the demands of an expanding population.
In advanced societies, most people obtain adequate protein. Nevertheless, many people do not get enough, as they are either too poor to purchase high-protein foods or ignorant of the nutritional requirements for good health.
Nutritional Classification of Proteins
There are 22 amino acids utilised by the body. The essential amino acids required for the growth, maintenance and repair of the body tissues, must be supplied by the ingestion of food. The non-essential amino acids can be synthesised in the body as needed.
Adults require eight essential amino acids. Growing children need nine or ten. Arginine is classified as semi-essential because growth is retarded if it is not included in the diet.
Proteins, which can neither support life nor promote growth, are called incomplete proteins. Gelatine and proteins found in corn are good examples.
Functions of Proteins
Like fats and carbohydrates, proteins are also major sources of energy. A gram of protein will yield approximately four calories. If the body’s energy demands are not satisfied by the other nutrients, proteins are utilised to produce energy.
Digestion of Proteins
Proteins are not utilised by animal organisms (including man) in their native form but are broken down by enzymatic action in the digestive tract into amino acids. A certain portion of these acids is required for the construction or maintenance of tissue and special proteins. The remainder is oxidised or converted into carbohydrates or fat for storage.
Relationship between Diet, Health and Hair
Because the hair is part of the body, it too requires nourishment. The hair, it may be said, is dependent upon the ingestion of food as much as the heart, liver or any other organ. However, the scientific community has only recently investigated the effects of human nutrition on hair.
Nutrition and the Hair
Proteins, vitamins, minerals and water provide the more important nutritional components for the hair. That is not to say that fats, carbohydrates and other nutritional items are not important, but their presence is not as critical.
The structures of the hair and skin appear to function adequately throughout a broad range of nutritional changes. When you consider the large number of vitamins, amino acids and minerals necessary for the proper growth of hair and skin, you can begin to appreciate the complexity of it all.
It is advisable to consult your HairOptions consultant based on the assessment you may be referred to a dietician before supplementing your diet with vitamins. This applies to all vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
In Conclusion, many factors determine our hair loss and regrowth patterns and there can be the mindset that one solution works for all so you must speak to people with experience and companies that have been in existence for many years when choosing you’re re-growth program.
