Hair loss may surprise you but remember you are not the only person with this condition. There must be an underlying cause of hair loss. This root cause can easily be diagnosed by a hair restoration specialist who can advise you the best treatment according to your condition. Both sexes suffer hair loss but it is more common in male. Additionally baldness patterns are also different for both sexes.

Mechanism of hair loss

Hair production consists of two steps, first growth then rest. The course always differs from person to person. Generally growth of scalp hair known as anagen, usually last for two to three years. Meanwhile, scalp hair grows up to half inch. Second phase is named as telogen and this phase prolong for 3 to 4 months. At the end of this phase the hair falls down and new hair take its place. At the end of the second phase the growth phase become active so these two phase work in a cycle.

The average hair fall in a healthy person is 50 to 100 hairs a day but in front of above than 100,000 scalp hair, the amount is negligible. The scalp hair thin with the aging, but if the rate of hair fall exceeds the rate of hair growth it results in the baldness. This baldness may appear due to the growth of thin hair or if the hair grows in patches.

Causes and types of hair loss

Androgenetic alopecia

In this type of hair fall growth time starts to shorten and hair become thin and weak. With each growth roots of hair starts to come at surface gradually and fall easily. In this type of hair loss, heredity factor is the most common reason. History of androgenetic alopecia, also known as pattern baldness, from either side of parents elevates the risk of baldness. In this type, hair loss occurs at relatively early age normally in the twenties.

Cicatricial alopecia

This type of permanent hair loss takes place when any kind of infection or inflammation damaged the hair follicle. This produces the scars on the skin of scalp and prevents the growth of new hair. Many skin conditions are responsible for such type of hair loss such as lichen planus, lupus erthematosus etc. the cause of these diseases is still unknown.

Alopecia areata

This unique cause of hair loss occurs due to the immunity of the body attacks the body itself without any reason. Those persons who normally suffer alopecia areata have good health condition. Researchers believe that, some people are prone to this disease by birth and any triggering effect such as virus or other microbes in the environment can initiate the condition. In this specific type of hair loss hair fall in the form of patches but this is not the type of permanent hair loss. Hair re-grows after the condition goes on its own, but such people may suffer number of episodes of loss and re-growth of the hair.

Telogen effluvium

The reason behind this type of hair loss is the disturbance in the life cycle of the hair. Studies have concluded that any emotional or physical forced the hair root to stay in the resting phase. The resultant hair from the affected hair follicle falls down very quickly. The factors that can trigger the telogen effluvium may include the high fever, sudden weight loss, surgery, unbalanced metabolic rate emotional disturbance includes sudden death of the beloved ones. The condition is reversible and hair grows back as the underlying cause vanishes, but it could take month to recover.

Other causes of hair loss

Other than disease there are certain other factors that can contribute to hair loss. These factors include:

• Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder)
• Insufficient food
• Side effects of prescribed medicine (drugs used to treat gout, arthritis, depression)
• Chemotherapy
• Hormonal imbalance
• Use of hair dyes and Chemicals