In which stage of hair growth does mitosis cease?

Mitosis, the process of cell division that leads to hair growth, ceases in the catagen stage. During this phase, the hair follicle transitions from the active growth of the anagen stage to the resting phase.

In catagen, the hair follicle begins to shrink, and the hair strand detaches from the blood supply. This detachment effectively halts new cell production, ceasing mitosis. As a result, the hair does not continue to grow but instead prepares for the next stage of the hair cycle. By understanding that catagen is characterized by this cessation of mitosis, one can appreciate the complete cycle of hair growth and its phases.

The anagen phase is where active hair growth occurs, and significant mitotic activity can be observed. Teleogen involves a resting stage where the hair is not actively growing but is not shedding either, and exogen is the phase when the hair is released from the follicle. These phases highlight the dynamic nature of hair growth and the distinct functions each stage plays.