Hair follicles are the foundation of healthy hair, yet they often go unnoticed until issues like thinning or hair loss arise. Understanding how these tiny structures function and what can damage them is key to maintaining lush, strong hair throughout your life.
This guide will explore the anatomy of hair follicles, the factors that can harm them, and the steps you can take to keep them healthy.
What is a Hair Follicle?
The word "follicle" is derived from the Latin word follis, meaning "bag." Hair follicles are tiny sacs lined with skin cells where hair grows and oil glands open. On a healthy scalp, 90% of these follicles are actively growing hair at any given time.
Larger, healthier hair follicles produce thicker hair, while smaller follicles yield thinner strands. Unfortunately, unhealthy or aging follicles can shrink, become dormant, or even die. Once a follicle dies, it cannot be revived, so it's essential to learn how to keep them alive and thriving.
Signs of Damaged Hair Follicles
Imagine being able to zoom in on an unhealthy hair follicle with a microscope. You would see that essential components, such as fat cells, oil glands, and proteins, have been significantly depleted from both the follicle and the hair shaft.
This depletion causes the follicle to shrink, resulting in the production of a thin, weak hair strand. This weakened hair is not only more fragile but also more prone to breakage and falling out prematurely. Over time, if left untreated, these unhealthy follicles may become dormant or even die, leading to permanent hair loss.
Causes of Damaged Hair Follicles
Many factors can damage hair follicles, leading to thinning or hair loss. These include:
- Chemical treatments: Frequent use of perms, relaxers, and harsh hair dyes can weaken hair follicles over time.
- Autoimmune conditions: Disorders like alopecia areata can cause the immune system to mistakenly attack hair follicles, leading to hair loss.
- Excessive heat styling: Regular use of hot tools such as flat irons, curling wands, and blow dryers can damage the hair shaft and follicles.
- Genetics: A history of genetic hair loss, particularly androgenetic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness), increases the likelihood of follicle damage.
- Aging: As we age, hair follicles naturally shrink and produce thinner, more fragile hair.
- Folliculitis: Inflammation or infection of the hair follicles, known as folliculitis, can disrupt hair growth and lead to hair loss.
- Traction Alopecia: Repeated tension or pulling on the hair, often from tight hairstyles or hair extensions, can damage the follicles and result in hair loss.
- Stress: Chronic stress can trigger hair loss conditions such as telogen effluvium, where hair follicles prematurely enter the resting phase, leading to increased shedding and thinning of hair.
By age 50, about half of all people experience some degree of hair loss. But don’t worry - you’re not alone. There are many ways to maintain healthy hair follicles and prevent damage.
How to Repair Damaged Hair Follicles
Fortunately, there are several ways to revive shrinking or dormant hair follicles. These include:
- Diet and Nutritional Supplements: A balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals is essential for maintaining healthy hair follicles. If dietary intake is insufficient, supplements can help bridge the gap.
- Avoiding Harsh Chemicals: Limiting exposure to harsh chemicals found in hair dyes, toner, and some shampoos can prevent further damage to hair follicles.
- Proper Hair Care Practices: Gently washing and handling your hair, avoiding excessive heat styling, and using protective styles can reduce strain on the hair follicles, allowing them to recover.
- Laser Therapy: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can help "wake up" dormant follicles and encourage them to enter the active growth phase. Consistent use can improve hair thickness and density over time.
It has long been known that red or near-infrared laser light promotes tissue repair and regeneration. LLLT, a type of low-intensity light, stimulates blood flow and cellular activity in the scalp. LLLT has also shown beneficial effects in various medical conditions, including wound healing, nerve regeneration, joint pain relief, stroke recovery, and hair growth.
Theradome: A Solution for Hair Follicle Revival
The Theradome LLLT helmet is an at-home device that emits low-power coherent monochromatic red light. This light stimulates hair growth by providing energy that triggers a follicle reaction. With just 20 minutes of use twice a week, unhealthy or dormant hair follicles can begin their journey toward growing new, thicker, and stronger hair shafts.
By following these tips and utilizing available treatments like LLLT, you can help keep your hair follicles healthy and vibrant, reducing the chances of hair loss and promoting thicker, stronger hair.
The Key Factor in LLLT
LLLT is clinically proven to reverse hair loss by reducing shedding, increasing hair shaft thickness, and stimulating new hair growth. However, the effectiveness of LLLT hinges on delivering the optimal dosage of energy directly to the base of the hair follicles.
Not all at-home laser hair treatments are created equal. For LLLT to be effective, the right amount of energy must reach the targeted areas of the scalp. If the energy delivered is insufficient or improperly focused, the treatment may not provide the desired results. Therefore, choosing a device that ensures precise and effective energy delivery is crucial for achieving the best outcomes.
What is Energy Dosage?
Understanding energy dosage is crucial for effective hair treatment. Energy dosage, akin to a medical dose for treating an ailment, is measured in joules (J) per square centimeter (cm²). While a very low dose may offer minimal benefits, achieving optimal hair restoration requires a higher dosage.
For restoring healthy hair follicles, the ideal energy dosage typically ranges between 6 J/cm² and 10 J/cm². It’s important to note that a longer treatment duration generally leads to a higher energy dose. Ensuring that the energy applied meets this optimal range is key to maximizing the benefits of LLLT.
The Importance of Full Scalp Coverage and Treatment times
The Theradome PRO LH80 stands out as the only home-use laser hair growth device that offers comprehensive full-scalp coverage, treating an area of 582 cm² with a consistent energy dose. When used for 20 minutes, twice a week, it delivers an optimal energy dosage of 6 J/cm², based on standard power density calculations. This dosage is crucial for effectively stimulating hair follicles and promoting healthy hair growth.
In comparison:
- Laser Combs: These devices target small areas of the scalp for about 4 seconds per section, resulting in an energy dosage of only 0.02 J/cm². This low dosage is insufficient for meaningful follicle stimulation. It's also important to note that many low-level light therapy (LPT) devices use a combination of LEDs and lasers as a marketing tactic, suggesting that "more is better." However, this is misleading. LEDs do not penetrate deeply into the scalp, and therefore, they have no significant impact on hair growth.
- Laser Bands: Typically used for 30 seconds, these deliver an energy dosage of around 0.15 J/cm², which also falls short of the levels needed for effective bio-stimulation.
- Laser Caps: Operating with pulsed lasers rather than continuous light, these caps reduce treatment time to 15 minutes. Despite this, they provide an energy dosage of 4.5 J/cm², which is still inadequate.
The Theradome LH80 PRO can begin rejuvenating dormant or unhealthy hair follicles in as little as 4 weeks. With Theradome’s commitment to advancing hair health, this device offers a reliable solution for revitalizing your hair.
Don’t wait for hair loss to worsen. Take proactive control with Theradome’s laser helmet and start your journey towards healthier, fuller hair today. Make the smart choice and embrace renewed confidence now.
