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The tiny pocket in the skin from which each hair grows, containing the cells that build the hair and the dermal papilla that controls its cycle. The follic
The tiny pocket in the skin from which each hair grows, containing the cells that build the hair and the dermal papilla that controls its cycle. The follicle, not the visible hair shaft, is where treatment must act — pattern loss is the follicle shrinking, and a dead follicle cannot be revived by any drug.
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Not medical advice. General education only; it does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a licensed professional. Consult a board-certified dermatologist before starting, stopping or changing any treatment.
⚠️ When to see a doctor — don’t self-treat
- Sudden patchy or circular bald spots
- Redness, scaling, pus, pain or itch (possible scarring alopecia — treat urgently)
- Broken hairs or rapid loss
- Loss with body-wide signs (weight loss, fatigue, cycle changes, acne, extra hair)
- Loss right after a new medication
- Any hair loss in a child