Causes of Hair Loss

There are many causes of hair loss that range from disease to genetic makeup. Certain causes of hair loss, such as what results from medication are not the same as natural hair loss as the body is affected by an outside source. Hair loss as a result of disease or medication is common in treatments such as chemotherapy, but of all the causes of hair loss, the most common is natural and is referred to as male pattern baldness.

Male pattern baldness does not exclusively occur in men, but is typically caused by male hormones. Therefore, men experience hair loss more frequently than women and women typically do not experience natural hair loss until after the onset of menopause when the female hormones begin to decrease. Essentially, this is a genetic condition that occurs when the male hormones cause the hair follicles to become stagnant and no new hair growth occurs.

Other causes of hair loss that are not genetic include disease. Alopecia Areata is specifically a hair loss disease for example. Other illnesses that can be causes of hair loss are severe viral or bacterial infections with high fevers. Hair loss may also occur as a result of surgery and, occasionally, extreme stress can cause hair loss. Unlike alopecia, hair growth after illness or stress is entirely possible. With alopecia, hair growth isn’t as likely to occur once the hair is completely lost.

There are some treatments ranging from chemical to electronic that can potentially trigger new hair growth, but the only treatments approved by the FDA are Minoxidil, or Rogaine, and Finasteride, or Propecia. Non-chemical treatment options are also available with hair transplant being the most extreme. Some treatments are designed to stimulate hair follicles to grow new hair, other treatments consist of vitamins to strengthen existing hair and prevent further thinning or loss.