Hairline recedes, a spot is becoming sparse on the top of your head, there are hairs on the pillow again today…. It feels like the end is near. And yet there is a secret that only a handful of us realize – every follicle which stops growing hair isn’t dead. In fact, the vast majority are actually dormant follicles that rest peacefully under the scalp – alive, but no longer working.
What Are Dormant Hair Follicles?
Every single hair on your body grows from a miniature unit that is referred to as the hair follicle. Hair follicles have 3 natural phases of growth, a phase that involves growth and then rest. Your dormant hair follicles at any moment, have stopped growing for much longer than this normal rest phase – it can be months or years at times.
The hair growth stops, but the hair follicle itself is still very much alive below your scalp. Which is also why, even when thinning and balding, your odds for new hair growth are actually quite good.
What Causes Hair Follicles to Go Dormant?
Male hormones are an example of why hair growth could come to a halt; such hormones are the culprit behind conditions such as the ‘male and female patterned hair loss’ as they contribute towards the shrinking in a patient’s hair follicles, for instance, male hormones could be transformed into dihydrotestosterone or commonly known as DHT which contributes towards male and female pattern hair loss Additional triggers may consist of insufficient flow of blood to the hair scalp, scarcity in necessary nutritional elements like iron, biotin as well as zinc, pressure and hormonal instability, actually very limiting haircuts which stop the movement of blood flow to the hair roots, illness, very limiting diets or health issues such as hypothyroidism can spark this. Mercifully, some hair follicles might be revived if the reason is detected right on time.
Can Dormant Hair Follicles Actually Regrow Hair?
This is a major question. And the honest answer is – well, it depends how long the follicle has been inactive for and whether it has been completely miniaturised. If a follicle has been dormant, yet is still structurally there then it might be possible to stimulate it to return to action.
Treatments such as minoxidil for hair loss work partly through increasing blood circulation to the scalp and can encourage dormant hair follicles to continue their growth phase and can increase the longevity of this growth cycle of partially stimulated follicles.
PRP or plate-rich-plasma injections may have an effect too, because the plasma contains the factors to kick a follicle into gear, while minoxidil could potentially boost any follicles that have slowed down. But where the area has been completely shiny and smooth the follicle is dead, and no topical or medicinal treatments will result in regrowth at that point, where a hair transplant may offer hope.
How Do You Know If Your Follicles Are Still Alive?
Early diagnosis can assist in identifying if an inactive or irreparably removed follicle has resulted in thinning. Weakening yet useful follicles will have micro miniature, thinner vellus hairs in a spot, which is a terrific indicator. A flat scar-like bald spot implies loss of follicles. You ought to not postpone obtaining your scalp evaluated because you can miss out on the chance to reactivate your follicles from the idle to the irreversible stage of baldness.
What Happens When Follicles Cannot Be Revived?
Once the dormant hair follicles can no longer be saved and the area is indeed bald, the next best option will be the hair transplant. The process involves removing some strong hair follicles from the back of the head (which are naturally resistant to DHT) and placing them where it’s thin and bald. Since it’s from a part of your scalp that grows hair throughout your life, it will continue to do so even after transplanting it onto the bald area. However, you need to ensure that you opt for the best clinic, which QHT Gurgaon is the best hair transplant in Gurgaon – be it the perfect hairline design, successful high-yield transplant, etc. – we at QHT focus solely on hair restoration.
The Bottom Line
While inactive hair follicles aren’t a lost cause always, and a proper diagnosis can revive many, in situations when it is too late for that, a hair transplant is the best option. Know where you stand and the procedure best suited for you by getting a thorough diagnosis. Get in touch with QHT Gurgaon for a free consultation and clear all your doubts about hair fall or hair transplantation.
