The growth phase of the hair growth cycle is called which?

• A. Catagen
• B. Exogen
• C. Telogen
• D. Anagen

Answer: (D)

Active hair production happens during the growth phase, called anagen. During this stage the hair matrix cells divide rapidly in the follicle, building the hair shaft and lengthening the strand as it grows downward from the follicle. The follicle is deeply anchored, and pigment is added as the hair forms. The key point is that the duration of this growth phase determines how long hair can grow—the longer the anagen phase lasts, the longer the hair can become. After anagen comes the shorter catagen (transition), then telogen (resting), and eventually exogen (shedding) in some models. So the growth phase is the actively growing period we refer to as anagen.