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Catagen Phase
Also Called Transitional Phase
Catagen phase starts mysteriously at the end of the Anagen phase. This phase is also known as the transition phase. When this phase starts, the hair stops growing.
Even though it isn't growing any more, lots of interesting things happen inside the hair follicle during this short phase.
The dermal papilla goes through a lot of changes also. The dermal papilla supplies nutrients to the follicle and is therefore responsible for hair growth.
What Happens During This Phase?
- After an unknown sign, the follicle separates from the permal papilla and doesn't receive nourishment from it any more, but stays attached with a very thin strand of epiphilial cells,
- the follicle shortens to about two thirds of met-anagen phase length (when it is at its deepest),
- the follicle retracts upwards, followed by the still attached papilla.
All Hair Simultaneously? Change takes place in the hair after all the growing it had to do in the anagen phase. This arrested growth and change happens to only 1-2% of all body hair simultaneously.
This transitional phase is of very short duration. This phase in the hair growth cycle only lasts a few (14-21) days to a few weeks.
Although growth is arrested, the follicle is still attached to the dermal papilla. But it doesn't receive any nourishment from it any longer.
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