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At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
- Androgenetic alopecia. (2015). Androgenetic alopecia.
- Is hair color determined by genetics? (2017).
- Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Folliculitis.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Hair loss.
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Can Hair Grow From Damaged Follicles?
The effects of hair loss can be devastating to hair loss sufferers. Treatments for hair loss that can help to reverse hair follicle damage do exist. The effectiveness of treatment depends on the cause of your hair loss and the depth of the damage.
Significance
Your hair cycles through resting and growth phases throughout its existence. At any given time, one-tenth of the hairs on your head are in the resting phase, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Hair falls out after three to four months in this period. However, some people experience damage that causes the hair to shed for a longer time period or to cease growing at all.
- Your hair cycles through resting and growth phases throughout its existence.
- Hair falls out after three to four months in this period.
Causes
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Infections, such as fungal infections, can damage the hair follicles and result in hair loss. Wearing hairstyles that pull too tightly on the scalp also can cause hair loss. Pigtails and cornrows are two hairstyles that can pull excessively and damage the hair follicles, in some instances causing permanent scarring and damage. Hormonal fluctuations can cause hair follicle inflammation that leads to damage. An underactive thyroid gland or imbalanced sex hormones also can lead to scalp inflammation that results in hair loss.
- Infections, such as fungal infections, can damage the hair follicles and result in hair loss.
- Wearing hairstyles that pull too tightly on the scalp also can cause hair loss.
Repair
Whether hair will grow from damaged hair follicles depends on the cause and severity of follicle damage. For example, most fungal infections can be easily treated with medications, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Similarly, hormone imbalances because of pregnancy or fluctuating thyroid hormones can be successfully regulated with hormone treatments. However, those who experience significant scarring of the follicles from chemical or hot oil hair treatments may be looking at permanent damage. In addition, follicle damage from common baldness – also known as male or female pattern baldness -- may be more difficult to reverse because the condition is an inherited trait. Treatments are available to minimize follicle damage.
- Whether hair will grow from damaged hair follicles depends on the cause and severity of follicle damage.
- Similarly, hormone imbalances because of pregnancy or fluctuating thyroid hormones can be successfully regulated with hormone treatments.
Common Baldness Treatments
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Both men and women with common baldness -- also known as androgenetic alopecia -- can use over-the-counter treatments containing minoxidil twice daily to stimulate damaged hair follicles, encouraging hair growth 2. There is no guarantee that treatment with minoxidil will work, however. At the same time, practice good hair hygiene habits to strengthen your existing hair — eat a balanced diet, refrain from excess heat styling and brushing, and avoid hairstyles that pull tightly at the scalp.
Physician Evaluation
See a physician who can pinpoint the cause of your hair loss. Your physician will ask questions about your diet, medications you take and your lifestyle, such as your daily stress level. If your hair follicle damage is blamed on an underlying medical condition, your physician can prescribe remedies to reduce its effects.
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References
- Alkhalifa A. (2009). Alopecia areata update. DOI:
- Androgenetic alopecia. (2015). Androgenetic alopecia.
- Bernard BA. (2016). Advances in understanding hair growth. DOI:
- Flores A, et al. (2017). Lactate dehydrogenase activity drives hair follicle stem cell activation. DOI:
- Geyfman M. (2014). Resting no more: Re-defining telogen, the maintenance stage of the hair growth cycle. DOI: .
- How hair grows. (n.d.).
- Is hair color determined by genetics? (2017).
- Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Folliculitis.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Hair loss.
- Telogen effluvium hair loss. (n.d.).
- UCLA scientists identify a new way to activate stem cells to make hair grow. (2017).
- Why everyone’s hair is different. (n.d.).
- Phillips TG, Slomiany WP, Allison R. Hair Loss: Common Causes and Treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(6):371-378.
- Watras MM, Patel JP, Arya R. Traditional anticoagulants and hair loss: a role for direct oral anticoagulants? A review of the literature. Drugs Real World Outcomes. 2016;3(1):1-6. doi:10.1007/s40801-015-0056-z
- Urysiak-czubatka I, Kmieć ML, Broniarczyk-dyła G. Assessment of the usefulness of dihydrotestosterone in the diagnostics of patients with androgenetic alopecia. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2014;31(4):207-15. doi:10.5114/pdia.2014.40925
- Vincent M, Yogiraj K. A descriptive study of alopecia patterns and their relation to thyroid dysfunction. Int J Trichology. 2013;5(1):57-60. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.114701
- Peters EMJ, Müller Y, Snaga W, et al. Hair and stress: A pilot study of hair and cytokine balance alteration in healthy young women under major exam stress. PLoS ONE. 2017;12(4):e0175904. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0175904
- Pratt CH, King LE, Messenger AG, Christiano AM, Sundberg JP. Alopecia areata. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:17011. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2017.11
- American Academy of Dermatology. Alopecia Areata: Overview.
Writer Bio
Rachel Nall began writing in 2003. She is a former managing editor for custom health publications, including physician journals. She has written for The Associated Press and "Jezebel," "Charleston," "Chatter" and "Reach" magazines. Nall is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Tennessee.