Hair growth-Can Biotin Supplements Help?

There are many products on the market aimed at promoting hair growth and with the exponential growth of the cosmeceuticals market, many of us are rushing out to buy supplements aimed at promoting growth from within. Currently, many people swear by biotin, because it is often recommended to strengthen both hair and nails. However biotin deficiencies are extremely rare and it is believe that bacteria inside our intestines produce more biotin than is required on a daily basis. So before you go rushing out to buy another supplement consider the following.

Hair growth can differ greatly from one person to the next - and also differ from one location on the scalp to the next. It can also be affected by the seasons, your diet and lifestyle but the physiology of hair growth remains constant within all humans.

Growth Cycles Hair grows in 3 cycles:

• Anagen
• Catagen
• Telogen

The hair growth cycles in humans are not synchronised -otherwise like certain animals there would be times when we would be completely bald!. Instead hair falls within all three different stages at any one given time.

Anagen The anagen phase is the growing phase - Approximately 85 percent of the hair on your head is in the growing phase at any given time and can last between 2 to 6 years.

Catagen This is a transition period when the hair is getting ready to shed. this phase lasts about one or two weeks, during the Catagen phase the hair follicle shrinks to about 1/6 of the normal length. The lower part is destroyed and the dermal papilla breaks away to rest below.

Telogen this is the resting phase and normally lasts about 5-6 weeks. During this time the hair stays attached to the follicle while the dermal papilla stays in a resting phase below. Approximately 10-15 percent of all hairs are in this phase at any one time. At the end of the Telogen phase the hair follicle re-enters the Anagen phase.

Depending on the length of the anagen phase, some people are able to grow hair over 20" long, while others no more than 2 cms. Some experts believe that African hair appears not to gain any significant length due to a shorter anagen phase. This is highlighted better in some people that others. The Pigmies for example never appear to comb their hair to induce breakage, and never to undertake hair cuts. Yet still the hair remains no longer than 1 cm. In addition studies show that African grows at a slower rate than the rates that are generally quoted in text books. In fact it grows around 9 cms a year. So before rushing out to buy yet another set of supplements to grow your hair, consider the fact that your hair may already be at its optimum length and your money may be better spent on activities which relieve stress rather than events you have no control over.

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