Growth phases
Each hair has its own growth cycle
Every day we lose around 80 to 100 hairs. This is completely normal and is related to the fact that each hair has its own life cycle. Only hair loss exceeding 100 hairs per day is considered to require medical treatment, e.g. with Pantogar®.
The growth cycle of a hair consists of three successive phases: the growth phase, the transitional phase and the resting phase. It is part of nature that there is always enough hair on your head, there are always around 85% of all hairs in the growth phase (= anagen hair) and only around 14% in the resting phase (= telogen hair). If this ratio becomes unbalanced, there can be unpleasant consequences: more hair falls out than grows back, and visible hair loss results.
The growth phase (anagen phase) – crucial for healthy hair
The growth phase lasts around two to six years and is the key phase for the formation of healthy hair. During this time, the metabolism of the hair root is very active and ensures rapid division of hair cells: new hair is formed and hair grows.
In the growth phase, the hair is particularly sensitive. Stress, diseases or nutritional deficiencies can cause the hair root to reduce its activity and limit the growth phase. As a result, the natural ratio of anagen and telogen hairs becomes unbalanced and hair falls out more increasingly.
The transitional phase (catagen phase)
The end of the growth phase is followed by the transitional phase which lasts just a few weeks. Hair cell division declines, and the root shrinks to around 1/3 of its original size. The hair detaches from the hair root and travels upwards in the scalp.
The resting phase (telogen phase)
The resting phase lasts around three to four months and is the period during which the hair falls out – either on its own or on being pushed out by the newly growing hair so that a new growth cycle can begin.
How are the growth phases and hair loss related?
In healthy hair there is a natural balance between growing anagen hair and shedding telogen hair. If the growth cycle is disrupted, many hairs enter the telogen phase too soon and the ratio shifts so that more hairs fall out than can grow back.
The aim of a treatment against hair loss must therefore be to restore the natural balance and return the shedding hair to the growth phase. This is where the Pantogar® treatment comes in: its specifically formulated active substance complex supports hair metabolism and stimulates the formation of new cells. The hair returns to the growth phase and balance is restored to the natural growth cycle.
However, as hair only grows around one centimeter per month, it can take around 3-6 months for the treatment to be completed – as with every hair loss therapy.