The scalp is the soft tissue covering the head, except for the areas of the face and neck. Many people mistakenly think of the scalp as only the skin under our hairline, but it is so much more than that!
What Part of the Head Is the Scalp?
While most people think of the skin on their head as the scalp, the skin is one of five layers of the scalp. According to the National Institutes of Health, the scalp includes five layers: “the skin, connective tissue layer, galea aponeurotica, loose areolar connective tissue, and the pericranium.”
For most people, it is the part of the head that is, was, or will be covered in hair. The hair that grows there is a bit different from the hair that grows on other parts of the body, making the scalp a unique and important part of our hair.
What Is the Difference Between Scalp Hair and Body Hair?
Surprisingly, there is a significant difference between scalp hair and body hair.
Most of the human body is covered in vellus hair, those fine, almost invisible hairs you have a ton of in childhood and that cover most of the body. Those hairs are designed to help regulate your body temperature and protect your skin… but are nothing like the hair on your scalp. In fact, though we are now sometimes able to use hair from other parts of the body to do hair transplants, it is an entirely different procedure than transplanting hair from one part of the scalp to another part.
That is because the hairs in your beard, mustache, pubic region, and other long body hair is very different from scalp hair. These hairs are considered “androgen sensitive” and are appropriate for transplants. But they are not the same: “Between 30% and 85% of body hairs are in the telogen phase. The anagen phase of body hair is much shorter; a few months compared with several years for scalp hair,” according to the National Institutes of Health.
Body hairs are often thinner and shorter than scalp hairs, but that is just the beginning. This study explains, “Body hair lie more superficially in the dermis than the scalp hair, which are anchored at the level of deep reticular dermis or subcutaneous tissue. Body hairs emerge from the skin surface at a more acute angle in comparison to the scalp hair. Generally, body hair grows singly, at times follicular units having two or three follicles are found and harvested from beard and chest areas.”
What does all that mean?
Body hairs are shorter, curl oddly, and are not rooted as deeply in the skin as scalp hairs. They often grown at a different angle and the anagen phase – the period of time when hair is growing – is much shorter with body hair. Body hair is also in smaller groupings, so it is harder to harvest for transplant than hair from other parts of the scalp.
But that does not mean it can’t be done. For patients with widespread alopecia, it is certainly a consideration.
How Is Hair Attached to the Scalp?
Since we touched on it when describing body hair, let’s talk about how your scalp hair is “rooted” and why it takes more effort to pull hairs out of scalp. With body hair, your hair follicles are part of your skin. On the scalp, they are often deeper, into the dense connective tissue that is underneath your skin.
That means each hair follicle has layers of skin protecting it, much like the vellus hair protects the skin elsewhere on the body.
How Do I Know My Scalp Type?
When you go shopping for shampoo, or the first time you visit us, you may hear the question about what type of scalp you have.
Unfortunately, most people associate their hair condition with their scalp condition and the two are not always the same. Having dry or damaged hair does not mean you can’t also have an oily scalp. In fact, your oily scalp may lead you to using harsher and harsher products which are drying out your hair. Dry hair becomes brittle and breaks.
But dry scalp can also cause dry hair. Hair care giant L’Oreal suggests that telling the difference between dandruff (often caused by an overly oily scalp) and flaking scalp (caused by too much dryness) can be difficult even for professionals. But the first way to start figuring out which you have is to determine how your scalp feels. If it is always itchy, irritated, and you have flakes all over your shoulders, it is likely dry scalp.
If your hair feels heavy during the day, even after you wash it, you might have an oily scalp. The oil glands are part of the skin that covers the scalp and, just like the ones on your face, sometimes they produce too much oil. If you think that your scalp condition is contributing to your hair loss, it may be time to talk to us.
Have Questions About Your Scalp and Hair Loss? Call Precision Hair Restoration
Our staff can help you figure out if your oily scalp is causing hair loss or if your dry scalp is leading to breakage that makes it look like you are losing your hair. And if you are losing your hair, we can help determine what you can do to stop it. Call us today to discuss your scalp condition and how it relates to hair loss.
