Spring Forward Into New Hair

Spring is in the air, and all of nature is on the verge of new birth. Landscapes have a birth of color creeping in with crocuses and pansies popping up, and trees are growing new leaves in brilliant shades of green. Even the animal kingdom is waking up and moving forward with new life. Some of this new life includes a new set of skin or a loss of winter fur, but either way, the critters are about to comfortable for the months ahead. Unfortunately, human life isn’t immune to similar changes, as all mammals go through growth and loss cycles with skin and hair. However, you don’t have to shed everything or experience such drastic changes as your furry friends.

Addressing Climate Change

Don’t panic when you hear of climate change and your natural hair. With the changing seasons, the body responds with different protective and defensive measures. As spring arrived, the life cycles of the cells within the body change and gear up for an intense renewal. When this occurs, the skin starts to peel and a loss of hair can be expected. It is normal and considered a part of the natural development of hair follicles. The change is often gone within six weeks. However, the growth cycle of hair follicles continues to function as normal.

Understanding the Lifecycle of Hair

There are four stages of life that make up the hair growth cycle. Though each follicle on your head goes through these cycles, they go through at individual rates. The first stage is the anagen phase,  where a blood vessel at the base of the follicle feeds hair growth for anywhere from two to seven years. This rate of growth is what determines the length of your hair. After this period, the hair moves into the catagen phase, which lasts around 10 days. During this time, the hair begins to transition to a resting phase, allowing the hair follicle to shrink. When the hair moves into the telogen phase or the resting phase, the old hair takes a break that lasts around three months. At any given time, between 10-15% of your hairs are in this phase. While the old hair rests, new growth begins. In the final exogen phase, the old hairs are shed from the scalp and the new growth increases. Normal hair shedding is typically seen in the loss of 50-100 hairs each day.

Seeing the Changes of Spring

Many scientists and hair experts believe the main causes of hair loss in the spring can be blamed on the climatic conditions. The changes between temperature, time, and light exposure may impact the hormonal balance in the body. The changing levels of melatonin and prolactin can cause an abnormally large number of hair follicles to enter the resting phase. Additionally, the change in temperature can cause increased perspiration on the scalp, leading to clogged pores. When the nutrients are blocked from reaching the root of the hair, natural growth can’t occur and loss may be the result. The impact of winter months with long days of cold and dry exposure, as well as a lack of sun and hat-wearing, may also be a reason for excessive shedding during the spring. A lack of vitamin D and other nutrients could cause the hair follicles to weaken and become more prone to damage and loss. Though you may feel a few days of good sunshine can change a deficiency, excessive exposure to the sun can actually cause more damage. Your hair may already be damaged or exhausted from the strains of the winter season, and any additional pressure could make matters worse. The UV rays of the sun impact your skin, even the layer of scalp beneath your hair. If these rays penetrate deep enough, they can damage the DNA of the cells responsible for growth.

Preventing a Serious Condition

While spring is coming, you don’t need to let it seriously impact your hair’s health. There are numerous ways to keep your mane full of body and full of life, but you can also address any concerns with shedding or balding that may have already started. Medical professionals suggest using a hair restoration product if the loss is significant, as it can both restore normal hair growth while preventing further loss. Filling your diet with nutritious foods is another way to combat loss from the inside out, and watching the products or styles you use with your hair can minimize additional damage.

Most people take the spring months to work on their summer body. Why not take the same interest in protecting and creating a healthy head of hair.

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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your physician about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Nu Image Medical may not offer the medications or services mentioned in this article.