Causes Of Hair Loss

It is normal for people to shed up to as many as 100 strands of hair every day. As there are about 100,000 strands of hair in a persons scalp, losing 100 strands a day will be hardly noticeable. However, as a person grows older, hair gradually thins out. In this case, if a person continues to shed off the same amount of hair each day, thinning of the hair will be obvious. Hair loss in this situation may no longer be considered normal but should be checked if linked to some medical problems or conditions. The other possible causes of hair loss are hormonal factors and the use of medicines.

Hair loss as a medical condition is known as alopecia. Thinning of hair on the scalp may be in patches or widespread. It is recommended that if excessive hair fall is observed, a visit to the doctor or dermatologist should be made to determine the cause and necessary treatment to stop hair loss and prevent baldness. One of the most common causes of hair loss is known as male- or female-pattern baldness which is triggered by some sex hormones. This condition is more common in men and can begin in the puberty stage. Changes and imbalance in hormones can cause temporary loss of hair. Pregnancy, start of menopause, giving birth or discontinued use of birth control pills could cause hair loss.

Hair loss can also be attributed to possible medical conditions like alopecia areata, scalp infections, thyroid problems, or some skin diseases or disorders. Hormone levels in the body which are not regulated because of thyroid problems can cause hair loss. On the other hand, alopecia areata which is a disease occurring when the immune system attacks the hair follicles, can cause round patches of thinned hair. Ringworm infections can penetrate the hair and scalp skin causing hair fall. If the infection is treated, hair will grow back. Lastly, there are illnesses which result to scars, e.g. lichen planus or lupus. Where scarring occurs, hair loss may be observed.

Drugs taken to treat diseases such as arthritis, cancer, heart problems, hypertension, and depression can also cause hair loss. Similarly, hair loss may be observed when a person is in emotional or physical shock extreme loss of weight, high fever or death in the family. A mental illness known as hair-pulling disorder can leave bald patches on the head. And interestingly, certain hairstyles can cause hair fall. Examples would be tight cornrows or pigtails. If the cause of the hair loss is not properly determined, people may end up resorting to using anti-hair fall shampoo or hair-loss prevention solutions like minoxidil (rogaine) in order to stop hair loss. This should work if the cause is not associated with other underlying medical conditions that need to be addressed first before treating hair loss.

There are two options to treat hair loss - medication and surgery. FDA approved medicines include Minoxidil (Rogaine) liquid or foam solution available over the counter applied into the scalp twice daily to enhance hair growth; Finasteride (Propecia) a prescription drug for the treatment of male-pattern baldness in pill form is taken daily. Surgery, on the other hand is another treatment option for hair loss. This includes hair transplants or scalp reduction.