Hair loss in people is often caused by diseases as well as mental stress but many a times its occurrence is hereditary. It is most common in men than women. Statistics show that 35 million men and 21 million women in the United States alone are generally affected from hair loss. 40 percent of men will have noticeable hair loss by the age of 35 and 65 percent of women will have noticeable hair loss by the time they are 60. I have a small statistics taken from ISHRS fact sheet on 2006 consumer hair loss survey.

International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) Fact Sheet on 2006 Consumer Hair Loss Survey

· 82% of adults correctly identified heredity as a cause of hair loss.

· Nearly six in 10 adults believe stress (58%) and medical causes (58%) can trigger hair loss.

· Less than one in five respondents associate wearing a hat (19%), over-brushing hair (13%) or shampooing too much (10%) with hair loss - all of which are not causes of hair loss.

· Respondents aged 18-24 are the most likely age group to think stress (73%), over-brushing hair (24%) and shampooing too much (20%) cause hair loss.

Let’s have a look to different types of hair loss common

Normal Hair Loss:

Generally it is proven that we all lose about 100 hairs per day, out of the 100000 hairs contained by the average scalp. Following are the factors behind this:

1) Life Span: every hair has a life span of around 4.5 years after which it falls and is replaces by a new hair with in 6 months. So this is very common.

2) Styling: Another factor is shampooing, hair drying, brushing the hair due to which few hairs falls out. We all do this regularly.

3) Aging: due to aging hair loss is natural in most of the people. This mostly occurs faster in man than in women.

Hereditary hair loss:

Hair loss may be hereditary. It does not depend only upon the genes and hormones of the father but mother’s genes are also a factor. This is also most common in man.

Stress and Hair Loss:

You may have heard that stress can cause hair loss, and it’s true. Excessive physical or emotional stress, like that associated with injury, illness or surgery, can cause one of two types of hair loss:

• The more common type is called telogen effluvium. With this less severe type of hair loss, the hair stops growing and lies dormant, only to fall out 2 or 3 months later. Then it grows back within 6 to 9 months.
• The other type of stress-induced hair loss is known as alopecia areata, and involves a white blood cell attack on the hair follicles. With this type of hair loss, the hair also falls out within weeks (usually in patches), but can involve the entire scalp and even body hair. Hair may grow back on its own, but treatment may also be required.

Other Hair Loss Factors:

There are other factors that can also cause hair loss, including but not limited to:

• Illness
• Hormonal changes
• Pregnancy, childbirth, and birth control pill usage
• Nervous habits
• Chemotherapy

In women, the two most common types of hair loss are androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata.

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is an immune disease that affects almost 2% of the population in the US. This type of hair loss appears in various degrees of severity from small, round patches of hair loss that regrow without medical treatment to chronic, extensive hair loss that can involve the loss of all hair on the scalp or body hair. This type of hair loss affects both genders equally and can occur at any age, although it occurs most often in children and young adults.

Treatment of this type of hair loss includes immunomodulating therapies such as glucocorticoids, topical immunotherapy, or anthralin, or biologic-responce modifiers such as Minoxidil. The choice of treatment depends on the patient's age, as well as the extent of hair loss. Milder cases often see a greater improvement with treatment than severe cases. In no case does treatment restore full hair in patients with 100% scalp or body hair loss.

Androgenetic Alopecia

Myths Vs. Facts

Myth: Hair loss is inherited from your father

Fact: Both parent's genes are a factor.

Androgenetic aplopecia is genetically-linked hair thinning.

Myth: Female pattern hair loss causes abnormal bleeding.

Fact: Menstruation is not affected.

Hair loss typically begins between the ages of 12 and 40.

Myth: Extensive hormonal evaluation is required.

Fact: Hormonal evaluation is only required if the patient is also experiencing irregular periods, infertility, hirsutism, cystic acne, virilization, or glactorrhea.

Androgenetic aplopecia usually doesn't cause menstrual issues or interfere with pregnancy or endocrine function.

Myth: Teasing, using hair color, other products, or frequently washing hair increases hair loss.

Fact: Normal hair care doesn't affect hair loss.

The only drug approved for promoting hair growth in women is Minoxidil.

Hair Loss and Thyroid Disease

Many people notice rapid hair loss as a symptom of their hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Some people actually say this is the worst symptom of their thyroid problem -- this thinning hair, large amounts falling out in the shower or sink, often accompanied by changes in the hair's texture, making it dry, coarse, or easily tangled.

Here are ten steps to take to tackle thyroid-related hair loss and balding.

1. Get an Evaluation

2. Be Patient

3. Understand The Types Of Hair Loss

4. Make sure its not your thyroid drug

5. Make Sure You're Not Undertreated

6. Find Out if You Need a Second Drug

7) Consider And Alternative Treatment:

Some other natural ways to deal with hair loss include:

• Arginine
• Cysteine
• Green Tea
• Polysorbate 80
• Progesterone
• Saw Palmetto
• Trichosaccaride
• Vitamin B6
• Zinc

9. Consult a Doctor for a Prescription Treatment

You can also consult with a dermatologist to work with you on drug treatments, including scalp injections, drugs like Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia, and other treatments that can help non-thyroid related hair loss.

In pregnancy most women suffers from hair loss which is very common and usually results due to fluctuating hormone levels and is completely normal. It can be embarrassing and stressful for a women through following steps can be taken to treat hair loss during pregnancy:

1) You should talk to your doctor about it so that he may check your hormone levels and prescribe you any vitamins and minerals that can alleviate your hair loss.

2) Reduce your stress because in pregnancy stress is very harmful for the mother as well as the baby. You should always try to be free from anxiety and stress to keep your health perfect.

3) Deficiency in diet may be a factor of hair loss in pregnancy. As during pregnancy body needs more nutrition than ever. So you must eat plenty fruits and vegetables and take vitamins and supplements prescribed by the doctor to overcome any health problem.

4) You should avoid frequent hair washings, and refrain from over-styling your hair. You may even want to consider a short style until at least 6 months postpartum, when estrogen levels return to normal and hair loss is minimized.

An abnormal amount of hair loss may be the result of a thyroid disorder. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you are still concerned.

1) Use horsetail to promote hair growth and strengthen hair. Horsetail is a good source of silica which keeps hair strong and shiny looking. Horsetail also promotes blood circulation to the scalp and help nutrients get to the hair follicle more easily. Horsetail should not be taken directly as it can be toxic if taken in ground or tablet form. You can obtain horsetail in an aqueous solution to be used as a shampoo or conditioner from many health stores.

2) Apply herbal tinctures such as birch and nettle directly to your scalp. They are gentle and will not harm your skin. Massaging these herbs regularly into your hair will keep your hair clean and shiny, prevent scaly skin and dandruff and promote healthy hair growth.

3) Use shampoos containing rosemary and sage as theses stimulate scalp circulation and hair growth. You can also make a rinse using 15 drops of essential oil of either or both combined in a pint of water.

4) Pygeum bark is derived from an African evergreen; it inhibits the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase- which reduces DHT-, and is used widely throughout Europe to treat male-pattern baldness.

5) Take vitamin C supplements. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant which is vital for healthy hair, and a deficiency can lead to or increase hair loss. A daily dose of 5,000IU will promote healthy hair growth. Food sources include citrus fruits, strawberries, pineapple, green peppers and cruciferous vegetables.

6) Biotin is a member of the vitamin B family. It stimulates the production of keratin and may help reduce hair loss and premature greying. The daily recommended dose is 150-300 mcg. Food sources include Brewer's yeast, egg yolk, milk and liver.