Question

I know that short hairs such as eyebrows, eyelashes, nasal hairs will stay a certain length because the lifespan of the follicle only allows them to grow to a certain length.

My question is why do those hairs start to grow longer and longer with age?

Answer 1

Hair growth is cyclical, occurring in three phases: anagen, catagen, and telogen. As a person ages, the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle shortens, resulting in shorter hair at the end of each cycle. The shortened anagen phase leads to hairs that appear to grow longer and longer with age.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hair growth is cyclical, occurring in three phases: anagen, catagen, and telogen. During the anagen phase, hair actively grows, and this phase can last for several years. In contrast, during the catagen phase, hair growth stops, and the follicle shrinks, lasting only a few weeks. Finally, during the telogen phase, the follicle is at rest, and no new growth occurs.

As a person ages, the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle shortens, resulting in shorter hair at the end of each cycle. This change in hair growth cycle duration is influenced by genetic factors, hormonal changes, and other factors associated with aging. The shortened anagen phase leads to hairs that appear to grow longer and longer with age.