Hair Loss: The Condition, Cause, and Course of Action

Hair loss can start with a few extra hairs in the sink or in your comb. Later, it can progress to a bare scalp. Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp and can be the result of heredity, certain medications, or an underlying medical condition. Anyone—man, woman, or child—can experience hair loss.

Some people prefer to let their baldness run its course untreated and unhidden. Others may cover it up with hairstyles, makeup, hats or scarves. Some loss of hair each day is completely natural as only about 90 percent of human hair is growing at the same time. Hair follicles that are not in a growing stage are resting and these resting hairs shed daily to make way for new growth.

There are many causes of scalp hair loss, and they do differ in men and women.

Studies show that losing up to 50–100 hair shafts per day is normal. Human hair naturally grows in three phases: anagen, catagen, and telogen. It is estimated that most individuals (assuming they have a full head of hair) lose about 100 scalp hairs over a 24-hour period.

In a society that emphasizes the importance of outward appearance, hair loss is a major cause of personal anxiety (which often worsens the condition) and social stigma.

Hair loss treatments vary depending on the reason of thinning hair or hair loss. Fortunately, there are several ways to treat the condition. The problem, however, lies in knowing and choosing the one most apt for your condition.

Some require permanent surgical procedures while some may apply topical treatment products as their daily regimen. Different kinds of treatment have also different prices. Surgical treatments are by far the most expensive means of hair restoration. Usually hair loss sufferers initially opt for over-the-counter hair loss products or medication.