Hair Loss - Overview
The average adult has about 90,000 to over 150,000 hairs. Most of the hairs are growing at a rate of about one inch every two months. A small percentage is at a resting stage after which the hair is shed and a new hair grows our of the same follicle. Therefore, it is common for men & women to lose hair every day - losing anywhere from 50 to 100 hairs per day is normal. When more hair loss occurs, it is likely that it is being caused by one of five reason:
- Stress - the rate of hair loss can increase when the body experiences stress. This can be caused by a traumatic experience, nutritional deficiency or severe illness.
- Medication - more than normal hair loss can be experienced as a side effect of medication you are taking. If you are taking medication, it would be worth checking with your doctor if you are experiencing the loss of hair because of your medication.
- Other Medical Conditions - hair loss can be experienced as a result of an iron deficiency (anemia), under-active thyroid or a fungal infection in the scalp. It is best to see your doctor to diagnose your condition.
- Improper Hair Care - more than normal hair loss can occur with the use of chemical hair treatments, like dies or straighteners. It can also be caused by shampooing or combing too frequently or using a towel too vigorously.
- Genetics & Hormones - most severe hair loss occurs because of a genetic predisposition to balding and a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This condition is referred to as male pattern baldness, common baldness or androgenic alopecia.
It is very rare to have hair loss because of stress, medication, other medical conditions or improper hair care. Most common hair loss is because of genetics and hormones. It is common for men to lose their hair - nearly 2 in 3 men develop some form of balding. It is much more rare for women, but it does happen. Even though it can look very good on some people, many men would prefer to prevent hair loss or to re-grow the lost hair.
The best options for halting male pattern baldness and having some moderate re-growth seem to be hair loss drugs. There are many hair growth products on the market, but few actually work. If you have lost hair or don't feel comfortable taking drugs for hair loss, hair transplant are a very good option that has become relatively inexpensive. For women, hair transplants tends to be the best option.
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