What stage comes after anagen in the hair growth cycle?

The correct answer is catagen, which is the stage that follows anagen in the hair growth cycle. The hair growth cycle consists of three main phases: anagen, catagen, and telogen.

During the anagen phase, hair is actively growing and can last from several years to even decades, depending on various factors such as genetics and health. After this growth period, the catagen phase begins, marking the transition between growth and resting. This phase lasts for about two to three weeks, during which the hair follicle shrinks and detaches from the dermal papilla, leading to the cessation of growth. Essentially, the hair enters a transitional stage, where it prepares to move into the resting phase, known as telogen.

Understanding the sequence of these phases is essential for grasping how hair growth works and the life cycle of hair follicles. There are additional stages mentioned in the options, such as telogen, which is the resting phase, and exogen, which relates to the shedding of hair, but they do not immediately follow anagen. Telophasic is not a recognized term in the context of the hair growth cycle. Therefore, catagen is the accurate next phase after the active growth stage of anagen.