noun
- the second phase of the hair growth cycle, during which hair stops growing and the follicle shrinks
Usage: technical; biology
Examples
- During catagen, the hair follicle begins to shrink and separate from the dermal papilla.
- The catagen phase typically lasts two to three weeks for scalp hair.
- Hair loss can increase when more follicles enter the catagen phase simultaneously.
- Understanding catagen is important for dermatologists studying hair loss conditions.
- The transition from anagen to catagen marks a critical change in the hair growth cycle.