Diseases affect every system of the body, even when they are targeted at one specific organ. For example, while hypothyroidism occurs in the thyroid, it also affects the digestive system. Hair growth, and the condition of the hair, can all be indicators of disease. To understand the relationship between hair growth and disease, you should explore the factors contributing to hair growth.
How Hair Grows
Hair grows out of a tiny pocket in the scalp called a follicle. The follicle has a network of blood vessels and gets nutrients and oxygen from the bloodstream. Under normal circumstances hair grows continuously, between one-quarter and one-half inch per month, for an average of three years. At the end of the growth phase, the hair goes into a resting phase, called telogen. Telogen lasts an average of three months and then the resting hair strand falls out as a new one grows in its place. Only a small amount of hair --- approximately 10 percent --- goes into resting phase and falls out. Not all of the hairs fall at once; the loss may occur daily or weekly depending on individual growth patterns.
How Diseases Affect the Body
Diseases knock the entire system out of balance and create stress within the body. When the body is attacked by a pathogen, whether a virus, bacteria or parasite, the immune system coordinates an immediate response. According to KidsHealth from the Nemours Foundation, the body releases white blood cells, called phagocytes and lymphocytes, to fight the pathogen and also causes other reactions in the body, such as sneezing, coughing and raising the body temperature. If the disease is caused by a malfunctioning organ, all of the functions of that organ are compromised, which affects the entire body. For example, the heart pumps blood throughout the body, and the blood provides all of the energy and nutrients for every organ in the body. A diseased heart does not pump properly, and people with the disease may experience indigestion, swelling and other symptoms seemingly unrelated to the chest and heart, notes MedlinePlus.
Diseases and Hair Growth
When the body is under stress, as with a disease or illness, the hair may go into a state known as telogen effluvium. With telogen effluvium, a larger percentage of hair than normal goes into resting phase, notes the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. The hair may also go into the resting phase well before it has finished growing, and stay in the resting phase longer than usual. When the resting hairs fall out, they may fall out in large clumps, instead of the usually staggered shedding. Additionally, more hair than usual will fall, which may create bald patches. If the hair follicle is damaged or compromised, such as with a reduced blood supply from heart disease, a new hair may not grow in its place.
Diseases of the Hair
While illness in general can affect the hair-growth patterns, there are also diseases specific to the hair. Alopecia is a condition where the immune system attacks and kills the hair follicles all over the body, causing baldness. Hirsutism, on the other hand, is a condition where hair grows, in large amounts, on unwanted places on the body. Folliculitis is an inflammation of the hair follicle, which can lead to hair loss and impede hair growth.
Conclusion
Diseases can have a direct effect on all aspects of hair growth, from the growth rate to the timing of the different stages of growth. In some cases, as with telogen effluvium, the effects will reverse when the disease passes. With other diseases, such as alopecia, the changes may be irreversible.
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