A number of things can cause excessive hair loss. For example, about 3 or 4 months after an
illness or a major surgery, you may suddenly lose a large amount of hair. This hair loss is
related to the stress of the illness and is temporary.

Hormonal problems may cause hair loss. If your thyroid gland is overactive or underactive,
your hair may fall out. This hair loss usually can be helped by treatment thyroid disease. Hair
loss may occur if male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens, are out of
balance. Correcting the hormone imbalance may stop your hair loss.

Many women notice hair loss about 3 months after they've had a baby. This loss is also
related to hormones. During pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones cause the body
to keep hair that would normally fall out. When the hormones return to pre-pregnancy
levels, that hair falls out and the normal cycle of growth and loss starts again.

Some medicines can cause hair loss. This type of hair loss improves when you stop taking
the medicine. Medicines that can cause hair loss include blood thinners (also called
anticoagulants), medicines used for gout, medicines used in chemotherapy to treat cancer,
vitamin A (if too much is taken), birth control pills and antidepressants.

Certain infections can cause hair loss.  Fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss
in children. The infection is easily treated with antifungal medicines.

Finally, hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes.
Since hair loss may be an early sign of a disease, it is important to find the cause so that
it can be treated.

Can improper care of my hair cause hair loss?
Yes. If you wear pigtails or cornrows or use tight hair rollers, the pull on your hair can
cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia (say: al-oh-pee-sha). If the pulling is
stopped before scarring of the scalp develops, your hair will grow back normally. However,
scarring can cause permanent hair loss. Hot oil hair treatments or chemicals used in
permanents (also called "perms") may cause inflammation (swelling) of the hair follicle,
which can result in scarring and hair loss.

What is the normal cycle of hair growth and loss?
The normal cycle of hair growth lasts for 2 to 6 years. Each hair grows approximately
1 centimeter (less than half an inch) per month during this phase. About 90 percent of
the hair on your scalp is growing at any one time. About 10 percent of the hair on your
scalp, at any one time, is in a resting phase. After 2 to 3 months, the resting hair falls out
and new hair starts to grow in its place.

It is normal to shed some hair each day as part of this cycle. However, some people may
experience excessive (more than normal) hair loss. Hair loss of this type can affect men,
women and children.

What is common baldness?
The term "common baldness" usually means male-pattern baldness, or permanent-pattern
baldness. Male-pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men. Men who
have this type of hair loss usually have inherited the trait. Men who start losing their hair
at an early age tend to develop more extensive baldness. In male-pattern baldness, hair
loss typically results in a receding hair line and baldness on the top of the head.  Women
may develop female-pattern baldness. In this form of hair loss, the hair becomes thin over
the entire scalp.

Is there any treatment for hair loss?
Depending on your type of hair loss, treatments are available. If a medicine is causing
your hair loss, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine. Recognizing and
treating an infection may help stop the hair loss. Correcting a hormone imbalance may
prevent further hair loss.

Medicines may also help slow or prevent the development of common baldness. One
medicine, minoxidil (brand name: Rogaine), is available without a prescription. It is applied
to the scalp. Both men and women can use it. Another medicine, finasteride (brand name:
Propecia) is available with a prescription. It comes in pills and is only for men. It may take
up to 6 months before you can tell if one of these medicines is working.

Is there a permanent solution?
The only form of permanent hair restoration is hair transplantation surgery. Performed
by a skilled surgeon, today's ultra-refined follicular hair restoration surgery can achieve a
full and natural appearance.