What are causes of hair loss?

There are many causes of scalp hair loss. This article will cover the common ones.

In general, most hair loss is not associated with systemic or internal disease, nor is poor diet a frequent factor. Thyroid disease can cause hair loss, but thyroid tests on people who have ordinary hair loss are usually normal. Although many medications list "hair loss" among their potential side effects, drugs are also not overall common causes of thinning or lost hair. On the other hand, with cancer treatments and immune suppression medications, hair loss is not uncommon.

One useful way to classify hair loss is by whether the loss is localized and patchy or whether it affects large areas or the whole scalp.

What treatments are there for hair loss in men?

Many conditioners, shampoos, vitamins, and other products claim to help hair grow in some unspecified way. These are harmless but useless. To slow down hair loss, there are two basic options:

Minoxidil (Rogaine): This topical application is available over the counter, no prescription is required. It works best on the crown, less on the frontal region. Available as a 2% solution, Rogaine may grow a little hair, but it's better at holding onto what's still there. There are few side effects with Rogaine. The main problem with this treatment is the need to keep applying it twice a day, and most men get tired of it after a while. In addition, minoxidil works less well on the front of the head, which is where baldness bothers most men. This drug also comes in a higher strength, 5%, which may be a bit more effective.

Finasteride (Propecia): This is a lower-dose version of a drug that shrinks prostates in middle-aged men. Propecia is available by prescription and is taken once a day. Propecia does grow and thicken hair to some extent, but its main use is to keep hair that's still there. It's therefore best for men who still have enough hair to retain. One side effect is impotence, but this is no more common than it is in the general population and is reversible when the drug is stopped. Taking Propecia once a day is easier that applying minoxidil, but the prospect of taking a pill daily for years doesn't sit well with some men. There's also the cost, about $60/month, not reimbursed by most health insurers.

Minoxidil and Propecia are meant to be used indefinitely. Those who change their mind and stop are left where they would have been without them but no worse.

What treatments are there for hair loss in women?

Ask your doctor about minoxidil (Rogaine). This is available over the counter and available in 2% and 5% concentrations. It's something of a nuisance to apply, but it helps conserve hair and may even grow some.

Propecia is a drug that helps men retain their hair. It is unsafe for women of childbearing to take this drug or even handle tablets. (It is, however, safe for their husbands to take it while they are trying to become pregnant.) Propecia is safe for older women but not very effective; newer studies suggest that it might be somewhat helpful and may be worth considering.

Surgical procedures like hair transplants can be useful for some women as well as men to "fill in" thinned-out areas.

What is common baldness?
"Common baldness" usually means male-pattern baldness, or permanent-pattern baldness. It is also called androgenetic alopecia. Male-pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men. Men who have this type of hair loss usually have inherited the trait. Men who start losing their hair at an early age tend to develop more extensive baldness. In male-pattern baldness, hair loss typically results in a receding hair line and baldness on the top of the head.

Women may develop female-pattern baldness. In this form of hair loss, the hair can become thin over the entire scalp.

What is the normal cycle of hair growth and loss?
The normal cycle of hair growth lasts for 2 to 3 years. Each hair grows approximately 1 centimeter per month during this phase. About 90 percent of the hair on your scalp is growing at any one time. About 10 percent of the hair on your scalp, at any one time, is in a resting phase. After 3 to 4 months, the resting hair falls out and new hair starts to grow in its place.

It is normal to shed some hair each day as part of this cycle. However, some people may experience excessive (more than normal) hair loss. Hair loss of this type can affect men, women and children.

What are the Prevention measures=
The following tips can help keep your hair healthy and may minimize the appearance of hair loss:
• Eat a nutritionally balanced diet.
• Handle your hair gently. Whenever possible, allow your hair to air-dry naturally.
• Avoid tight hairstyles, such as braids, buns or ponytails.
• Avoid compulsively twisting, rubbing or pulling your hair.
• Check with hair care experts about hairpieces or styling techniques that help minimize the effects of balding.
• The over-the-counter (nonprescription) medication minoxidil (Rogaine) promotes new hair growth and prevents further hair loss in a small percentage of people. Other over-the-counter hair growth products have no proven benefit.