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Exploring the Long and Short of Hair Loss | Health | Learning English/*
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RSS FeedExploring the Long and Short of Hair Loss ?04 April 2011
Photo: REUTERSAn example of male pattern baldness Share ThisDiggYahoo! BuzzFacebookdel.icio.usStumbleUponTO DOWNLOAD the MP3 of this story, click on the MP3 link in the upper right corner of the page. Double-click any word to find the definition in the Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary
BARBARA KLEIN: This is SCIENCE IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. I’m Barbara Klein.
STEVE EMBER: And I’m Steve Ember. Today we talk about hair. We will tell what hair is, how it grows, and some of the main reasons people lose it.
(MUSIC)
BARBARA KLEIN: Hair has always been an important sign of beauty. This is especially true for women. Next to the face, hair is one of the main qualities people look for when they consider a woman’s beauty. Whether long or short, curly or straight, hair often gets a lot of attention. People who have it value it. Those of us who do not often mourn its loss.
STEVE EMBER: Each hair on a person’s head grows from a single tube-like hole in the skin called a follicle. People are born with all of the hair follicles they are ever going to have. The average person has about one hundred thousand hair follicles. They begin to form on a fetus around the third month of pregnancy.
The part of the hair under the skin is known as the hair root. The hair sticking out from the skin is known as the hair shaft. The shaft is made up of dead cells that have been pushed up through the root. At the base of the hair root is a small ball-like formation called a bulb. This is where new cells are formed. These cells receive nutrition from the blood supply under the skin.
BARBARA KLEIN: As new cells form, the older cells are pushed up through the root. In time, the old cells are cut off from the blood supply and begin to form a hard protein called keratin. Keratin is the same protein found in our skin and nails. These dead cells and keratin are what make up the hair shaft. This whole process is what causes hair to grow.
Each hair grows independently of other hairs. There are three periods of hair growth. Not all hairs experience the same period of growth at the same time. The period of active growth is called Anagen. During this period, hair grows at a rate of about three tenths millimeters a day, or one centimeter a month. About eighty five percent of hair follicles are going through this process at any given time. This period can last from two to six years.
STEVE EMBER: The Catagen period of hair growth comes next. It is then that hair growth begins to slow down. This period usually lasts two or three weeks. Finally, hair growth comes to a complete stop and the hairs begin to fall out. This period is known as telogen. It affects about fifteen percent of all hairs at a time.
On average, a person loses between fifty and one hundred hairs every day. Since each hair grows at a different rate, this process is overlooked. Once the telogen period has ended, the hair growth process begins again.
(MUSIC)
BARBARA KLEIN: So what happens when a person has trouble growing hair or suffers from hair loss? Your genes control how fast or how long your hair will grow. Some people have a longer than usual anagen growth period. These people may be able to grow more hair than the average person. However, others struggle to grow shoulder length hair. These people have a shorter than normal anagen period.
Your health can also affect hair growth. Poor nutrition can cause some hair follicles to stop growing or cause the hairs that grow to become weak or thin. Problems with hair growth can result from thyroid problems or other conditions like anemia, diabetes and lupus. Health experts say people who experience a sudden increase in hair loss should seek medical advice.
STEVE EMBER: Some hair loss can result from a combination of genetics, aging and hormones. When this happens, the hair growth cycle changes and the hair follicles get smaller.? In addition, the hairs may get thinner and shorter. Soon the hairs stop growing completely on some parts of the head. People with this condition usually have family members who have experienced similar hair losses. This kind of hair loss is known as pattern baldness. It is the most common kind of hair loss.? The official medical term for the condition is androgenetic alopecia.
BARBARA KLEIN: The Latin word alopecia means loss of hair or baldness. It is also the term used to describe the medical condition that results in the loss of hair. Alopecia areata is the second most common form of hair loss after pattern baldness. It is the most common form of autoimmune disease. In alopecia areata, the body’s defenses against disease attack the hair follicles, resulting in a loss of hair on the scalp and other parts of the body.
The condition usually begins with small round areas of hair loss on the scalp. When hair loss takes place over the whole surface of the scalp, it is called alopecia areata totalis. Sometimes a person may lose their eyebrows, eyelashes or hair on other parts of the body. This condition is called alopecia areata universalis. It is the rarest form of alopecia.
(MUSIC)
STEVE EMBER: The National Alopecia Areata Foundation says alopecia areata affects about two percent of the population. About five million people in the United States have the condition. It affects people of all ages and races, and often begins in childhood.
That was true of twenty two year old Kayla Martell, the winner of the Miss Delaware Pageant last year. Ms. Martell began losing her hair when she was about ten years old. By the time she was thirteen, all of her hair had come out.
BARBARA KLEIN: Kayla Martell began competing in beauty pageants around that same time. In many of the events, she competed without hair. In fact, three of the five times she attempted to become Miss Delaware, Kayla was bald. She wore a blond wig the last time she competed, winning the competition in twenty-ten.
APAlopecia activist Kayla Martell, left, waits to perform in the talent competition at the Miss America pageant on January 15 in Las Vegas
That win put her in position to take part in the Miss America Pageant in January.
Ms. Martell has used beauty pageants to help educate the public about alopecia. She compares wearing a hairpiece to other beauty queen traditions, like false eyelashes and hair weaves.
She says it is important for people to understand the emotional and social pressure that alopecia sufferers experience. She advises people with alopecia to contact a support group to tell them that they are not alone. She also says the most important form of beauty is inside out, not outside in.
STEVE EMBER: Kayla Martell did not win the 2011 Miss America Pageant. But she was one of the top ten finalists. And her public comments have helped raised public understanding of alopecia.
Except for their hair loss, many people with alopecia are healthy individuals. And, since the hair follicles are not dead, some people with alopecia can experience periods of hair growth. Ms. Martell’s hair grew during the Miss America competition. She now has what is sometimes called a buzz cut, a short crop of soft, fuzzy hair. Alopecia patients may grow and lose their hair several times during their life.
(MUSIC)
BARBARA KLEIN: Scientists are not exactly sure what causes alopecia areata. It is not clear why the body’s white blood cells begin to attack the cells in the hair follicles. There is no cure for the disease and no effective treatment that works for everyone.
Last year, researchers at Columbia University Medical Center in New York reported findings that they hope will help lead to a cure. The researchers found eight genes they believe may be important in causing the condition. They said many of the genes are also linked to autoimmune diseases. These include rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes and celiac disease, a condition that affects the digestive system.
There are already effective treatments available for many of these conditions. Other treatments are being developed. The researchers say these treatments could prove to be promising for alopecia patients.
STEVE EMBER: ?Angela Christiano is a professor at Columbia University Medical Center. She also suffers from alopecia areata. She says the study gives hope that there may someday be a cure for the condition.
The researchers studied one thousand fifty four cases from the The National Alopecia Areata Registry. They looked for similarities in the genes that people with different levels of alopecia carry. They found that those with thirteen to fourteen similar genes had diseases that did not progress. Those with sixteen or more similar genes usually progressed to alopecia universalis, or total baldness.
The researchers are now working on a genetic test to predict the severity of the disease. Professor Christiano says the next step is to repeat the study in future research, with a larger number of patients.
(MUSIC)
BARBARA KLEIN: This SCIENCE IN THE NEWS was written by June Simms. Brianna Blake was our producer. I’m Barbara Klein.
STEVE EMBER: And, I’m Steve Ember. Join us again next week for more news about science in Special English on the Voice of America.
Listen? Email? Print? Comments?Comments (58)05-04-2011Kitty(Vietnam)It's an interesting information. Thanks
05-04-2011hoangloan(vietnam)this report is so useful for me.thank VOA so much
05-04-2011Bob Manutention(Bamako,Mali)It's an interesting text to read for learning.Thanks a lot Voa
05-04-2011Mario Perea(Cali-Colombia)Excellent, I′m getting bald, but is interesting to know about the development in this area
05-04-2011Ignacio(Spain)Hi everyone. This article is very interesting and current. Although I live in Spain, I am one of 2% people (according to american study) who is losing the hair or has any kind of alpecia. Now, I understand better the process of losing hair and growth of hair. Thanks VOA.
05-04-2011Joruji(Japan)It was surprising to know that on average, a person loses between 50 and 100 hairs every day. It seems to me that stress and irregular living habits are also causes of hair loss. Thank you for the informative report.
05-04-2011Hiwa(Sweden)It is very interesting,thank you VOA's staffs. I think hygiene of hair is important to have health and shine hair.
05-04-2011Slava(CR)not long ago I have read, that even completely hairless people have small follicles, which are able to cure. I wish Ms. Kayla Martell, in order to her grow nice hair.
05-04-2011KIKA(SPAIN)evrery year passing,in Spain there are more bald men because of the pollution, because the stress...Who knows...
05-04-2011Daniel(Korea)Thank you for the article. It is really good information on how hair grow and some of the main reasons people lose their hair, although I didn’t exactly understand all the news.
05-04-2011Andrew(South Korea)I think it's a very informative article.I didn't know that how the hair grow before reading this article. I should tell my friends about this.
05-04-2011KANG(south korea)Thanks for giving the imformation, and it is really good imformation. Because of it, now I know how hair grow and the reasons for baldness.
05-04-2011zuo(Canada)do u update every day?
05-04-2011BOONG(KOREA)good information for me.
05-04-2011wen(china)Thank you for the informative report.The hair loss effect the people’s impression. Many people of this problem hope to solve this puzzle. Maybe someday we will hear a good news for the people who loss hair.
06-04-2011Carlos Colonna(Argentina)Reading and listening helps me a lot. Thank you!
06-04-2011Balance(China)Sometimes, I felt it terrible to lose so many hairs everyday especially the days when I was under pressure. It seemed that I would become bald soon. But it turns out to be unnecessary to worry about it. I'm still with a lot of hairs now, and it's ok if I'm bald when I'm 60 or 70.
06-04-2011William(Colombia)Many thanks you for the information. The bald people could feel good because there are many reasons to be bald. Not only man but also women suffers baldness. People have to take this such as natural phenomena of humans. I hope someday scientist were able to find answer regarde to baldness.
06-04-2011nghiemtruong89(Viet nam)the hair very important with everyone.the hair show information of health.
06-04-2011Captain(China)interesting,and make me learn more
06-04-2011tony(China)Yes,the most important form of beauty comes from your heart ,So ,there is no need to care about hair too much!
06-04-2011saleem(Afghanistan)Reading and listening helps me a lot. Thank you!
06-04-2011Rose(Jordan)excellent information thanks
06-04-2011Amr Shalaby(EGYPT)Thanks a lot VOA , I really enjoyed your useful report .
06-04-2011Helen(usa)thank you this progam I can learn news and English
06-04-2011Ellison(China)Well, pretty good science report
06-04-2011drac(China)now i notice most of the uncurable diseases is being researched in the gene level. i believe this area's rather difficult, study progress is pretty hard to make, hope more and more power would join in it, biology's the next big hope of human being, we should make efforts together.
06-04-2011gulmira(kazahstan)veru thanks? it*s veru usefull information for me.
06-04-2011Maki(Japan)The topic of Kayla Martell was very interesting because it made me rethink what was beautiful in terms of human being. These days there are many makeup products, so there is no need to have a problem about one's appearance. More or less, when I was at puberty, I used to care about my appearance. But after becoming an adult, I have noticed we don't have to worry. The more important thing is inside our mind like her, Ms. Martell. I think she gave a great encouragement to us.
06-04-2011aka(canada)thank you for informative article. I didn't know how hair growing up and about alopecia areata. I'm curious at another cell systems..
07-04-2011ZZ Yang(China)It is a good report.I learn much information about our hair.We should keep good mood,and take care of hair.
07-04-2011Mac(south korea)Thank you this report. I can learn the English. Altough, i still have some problem that are speaking and understanding, listining...but, i just try to english study... thanks..
07-04-2011AmyWu(China)My hair is nature curly, and I can do nothing with them.I cut them just like men do.
07-04-2011hamda(somalia)thanks you it was good report that gives us a lot of information
07-04-2011Ceni2807(Serbia)go on for the future Voa
07-04-2011Tserentogtokh(Mongolian)thanks a lot god bless all of them
07-04-2011Fereshteh(Iran)very helpful ,thanks VOA
07-04-2011Nou Kihen(Cambodia)This is my first time that i had enjoy with this programm. During this time i want to improve my speaking english
07-04-2011josept-tai(vietnam)It is good for us. Thanks
07-04-2011Bill Duque(Cali, Colombia.)Oh! VOA, great theme, special for me , tanks, congratulations.Goodbye.
07-04-2011khiem(viet nam)very good
07-04-2011khiem(viet nam)very good
07-04-2011is good but thpk very slow
08-04-2011phu(vietnam)I just found the good way to learn English and good lesson for me.Thanhs VOA.
08-04-2011thanh loan(vietnam)Help me learn English and widen my knowledge. Thanks VOA!
08-04-2011everest_6879(vietnam)Thanks VOA
09-04-2011nguyenthachao(viet nam)after short time, I usually listen your voanews. I find my ability improve to be very much. Thanks voanews very much!
09-04-2011Yao Yuan-chao(Taiwa)There is an interesting phrase in Chinese related to hair--a monk walking under an umbrella, meaning that he is a person doing things regardless of TIEN (heaven, equivalent to God) and FA ( hair pronounced as law). This is because the umbrella represents overshading heaven and a monk normally wear no hair. Literally, a person respects no God nor law.
09-04-2011Huna(Mongolia)it is very interesting and very helpful information. thanks. VOA
09-04-2011keith(china)it is helpful for all of us to kown why so many people have hair loss,thus,it gives those people who have hair loss to be confident,I aslo learned a lot from the health report, luckily,I am not suffered the disease ever since.
09-04-2011GUSTAVO SANTOS(BRAZIL)Good report, thaks a lot VOA NEWS TEAM!I'm going bald! But I do not suffer from it.
09-04-2011Arthur(VOA self acclaimed ambassdor in Nigeria)(Nigeria)I think I am now empowered :information wise.Thanks VOA for this wonderful rerort.I am very hairy and wants to guide against hair loss.
10-04-2011matchigirlHair growth has three periods called Anagen,Catagen,Telogen.Because each hair grows at a different rate，not all hairs are the same period at the same time。some are growing fast, others begin to fall out.So,there are different length of hairs on one person's head.The qualities of hair depends on nutrition,genes,age,hormone and health condition.I know these informations from this article.Thank you very much!
11-04-2011Sara(cambodia)it 's very good information. thanks VOA
11-04-2011candi Jones(china)It is usefull....
11-04-2011ALBERT(SPAIN)Could be interesting to improve this article explaining the new treatments (minoxidil & finasterida) together with some vitamins that really help. The hair loss is also different during the year (autumn as the trees & season changes) and I guess it depends on the cleaning and care one has on his head (this is a legend or not?). I hope the article will be improved and expanded. Many Thanks to VOA.
11-04-2011Amy(China)Help me learn English and widen my knowledge. Thanks VOA!
12-04-2011Saud Alkhaldi(Saudi Arabia)thanks alotthat's really helpful
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