Hair loss or Alopecia though less prevalent in women than in men is still seen quite often. For men hair loss can be difficult but brings an air of maturity with it but in women hair loss can devastating.

One of the most common conditions causing hair loss in both men and women is called Telogen Effluvium.  In this condition there is an overall shedding of hair of the head and body.  This condition usually begins suddenly with hair loss continuing for around six months and then the hair loss stops and hair density is regained.  Telogen Effluvium is caused by the reaction of the body to intense stress, hormonal changes or medication.  As this condition appears a while after its trigger it is hard to relate it to its cause in the first place.  Some women with Telogen Effluvium can be diagnosed as neurotic or over anxious.  A lot of people go through this condition at one time or another in their life, either caused by sickness, stress or as a side-effect to a medication.  Hair lost due to Telogen Effluvium re-grows when the stressor or trigger is removed.

Another very common cause of hair loss in women is Androgenetic Alopecia.  Androgenetic Alopecia commonly known as Male Pattern Baldness is referred to as Female Pattern Baldness when occurring in women.  This condition occurs in a set pattern and in women it is characterized by an overall thinning of hair on the front and top of the head. Hair loss in women due to Androgenetic Alopecia is related to their hereditary and hormonal changes. It affects approximately 50% of women over the age of 40.  It can also affect women below 40.  But after menopause this condition can affect as many as 75% of women.  Although in women Androgenetic Alopecia does not cause complete baldness but in some post-menopausal women hair loss is more severe and may come close to baldness.

Anagen Effluvium is a pathological condition causing hair loss.  This condition is the result of chemotherapy and radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer.  The hair loss is reversed when the treatment is discontinued.

Another cause of hair loss in women is called Alopecia Areata commonly known as spot baldness.  In this condition small patches of hair fall off and leave the head with small bald spots ranging in size from a small chickpea to a large circular patch and in some rare cases loss of hair is complete.  This condition is caused by the body’s immune system attacking the hair follicle causing hair loss.  This condition usually rights itself within months but sometimes spontaneous recovery may take years.

A condition known as Trichotillomania affects close to 3.4% women.  It is a psychological disorder where a person feels compelled to pull out her/his own hair during times of stress or depression.  This condition may cause thinning of hair or bald spots or may progress to a completely bald head.  Trichotillomania when chronic can be difficult to treat.

A rare disorder known as Cicatrical Alopecia affects men and women of all ages and races. It is a devastating and permanent type of hair loss where hair follicles get destroyed and form scar tissue beneath the skin.  This condition may form small bald patches or may even cover the head. Unfortunately there is no cure found for this condition as yet.

The most feared heritage by many a man has been a bald shiny pate.  Though some men may look at it as a symbol of their maturity but most men go through great emotional distress especially if the hair loss starts early.

Male Pattern Baldness or Androgenic Alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss in men and in women.  In men it accounts for about 95% of all hair loss cases. This condition in men is characterized by the gradual thinning of hair starting at the hair line and thinning of hair at the crown.  The hair line begins to recede and the crown loses all visible hair. This slowly progresses to complete loss of hair on the top of the head and the crown and only a horse shaped fringe remains at the back and sides of the head.

MPB or Male Pattern Baldness usually starts at the age of 30 but sometimes it may start in the early 20s or even during teenage years.

Causes of Male Pattern Baldness

A number of genetic factors cause Male Pattern Baldness.  Along with advancing age and an inherited tendency this condition is caused by an excess of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) within the hair follicle. DHT is a highly active form of testosterone. This hormone causes the hair follicles to make thinner and thinner hair until they eventually pack up completely.  Technically, most follicles are still alive and able to produce new hair although weaker and thinner. In Male Pattern Baldness the growing phase of the hair known as anagen progressively becomes shorter and thus more hair is shed. The hair in the resting phase known as telogen becomes thin and cannot survive the daily wear and tear. Healthy and thick hair in the balding areas slowly changes from long, thick, colored hair into fine, un-pigmented, fuzzy hair.

Other Causes of Hair Loss

Telogen Effluvium is another cause of hair loss in men and in women. Telogen Effluvium is caused by the reaction of the body to intense stress, hormonal changes or medication.  As this condition appears a while after its trigger it is hard to relate it to its cause in the first place.  A lot of people go through this condition at one time or another in their life, either caused by sickness, stress or as a side-effect to a medication.  Hair lost due to Telogen Effluvium re-grows when the stressor or trigger is removed.

Some other cause for hair loss in men could be:

• Hypothyroidism
• Anemia
• Chemotherapy
• Fungal infections and
• Side-effect of a prescription drug

A rare disorder known as Cicatrical Alopecia affects men and women of all ages and races. It is a devastating and permanent type of hair loss where hair follicles get destroyed and form scar tissue beneath the skin.  This condition may form small bald patches or may even cover the head. Unfortunately there is no cure found for this condition as yet.

All of us shed hair daily and it is a natural and normal process. But when we look at the hair in our comb, are we looking at normal shedding or are we looking at a future of scanty hair or maybe even a sun reflecting shiny pate. How much hair loss is normal?  How can we evaluate our hair loss?

Researchers studying hair loss evaluate your hair loss with a technique known as the computerized light video-dermoscopy, but as you may not have one of those available to you at your home we will discuss other ways to evaluate your hair loss.

You must have heard that if you lose up to a 100 hair a day it is normal.  This is how you evaluate your hair loss based on a 1000,000 hair count on average. These hair grow back. Hair grow in cycles of growth phase and resting phase.  The growth phase is called anagen and usually lasts 3 years.  The resting phase or telogen lasts for 3 months.  In the telogen phase the does not grow any longer and rests until a new hair is formed in the hair follicle which pushes the telogen hair out thus resulting in natural hair fall.  At any one time about 10-15 percent of hair are in telogen phase while the rest are in anogen phase (solving the mystery why hair grow so uneven).

Sometimes certain drugs, hormonal deficiencies or stress may cause a larger number of hair to go into telogen or resting phase altogether.  After a three month resting phase these large number of hair will start to shed.  When new hair that had pushed out the telogen hair grow out of the follicle the hair density may be regained again.

This is known as temporary hair loss. But if your hair is gradually thinning and not growing back, then you have ‘alopecia’ the medical term for hair loss.  In most cases alopecia is treatable once you evaluate the cause of your hair loss.

Evaluate Your Hair Loss

If your hair loss is gradual which has been going on for a long period of time then the culprit might be your genes.  About 80% to 95% of hair loss is hereditary.  In men it starts with a receding hair line and thinning at the top of the head but in women the thinning is spread out in the front and top of the head.  In men this gradual thinning of hair may lead to baldness but in women it rarely does.  There are lotions and drugs now in the market which your doctor can prescribe to treat hereditary hair loss.

If you are going through chemo therapy then your hair loss will be faster, more severe but reversible once the drugs wear off.

If you are anemic or have thyroid problem then controlling these can check your hair loss.

Check for ring worm or other fungal infections that cause hair fall.  Once treated, the hair will grow back again.

Another condition known as trichotillomania, where a person intentionally or unintentionally pulls out his/her own hair over time can result in thinning hair or even bald spots.

A sudden weight loss due to dieting or any other reason  will also cause hair loss and can be reversed through a good balanced diet.

Check if you are using very harsh hair products or techniques.  These can cause hair weakening and breakage which can seem like hair loss.

Some medicines like blood thinners, contraceptive pill, medicine for arthritis etc. cause hair loss as a side effect.

In conclusion don’t lose hair over losing hair.  Evaluate the cause first, seek out a good dermatologist and assess your chances for getting back your crowning glory.  And with the amount of research going on in this field you have good chances.