Hair Loss or baldness is referred to as alopecia. Alopecia totalis means loss of all the scalp hair. Alcopecia universalis means loss of all body hair, including eyebrows and eyelashes. If hair falls out in patches, it is termed alopecia areata. This condition is usually temporary and rarely leads to baldness. 
 

Losing hair may be a physiological or a pathological response. A certain amount of hair loss will occur when the weather becomes warmer, through pregnancy and lactation, and with aging.  Factors that are involved in hair loss include:

• Hereditary
• Hormones
• Infections
• Drugs

Hereditary

A less dramatic, but more prevalent, type of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia (AGA), or male pattern baldness. AGA is common in men. As the name implies, a genetic or hereditary predisposition to the disorder and the presence of androgens – male sex hormones – are involved in this condition. Research indicates that the hair follicles of individuals susceptible to AGA may have receptors programmed to slow down or shut off hair production under the influence of androgens. Researchers have yet to determine the exact cause of hair loss, but some scientists believe the body’s immune system mistakes hair follicles for foreign tissue and attacks them.

Hormones

Women sometimes have the same type of hair loss as men, but it is not usually as extensive and most often does not occur until after menopause. All women experience some hair thinning as they grow older, especially after menopause, but in some it begins as early as puberty. In addition, most women lose some hair two to three months after having a baby because hormonal changes prevent normal hair loss during pregnancy. More serious conditions can cause hair loss, such as hypothyroidism (thyroid disorders) and other metabolic diseases.

Infections

A species of tiny mite, Demodex follicularum, may be the cause of, or contributing factor to, balding. These mites are present in virtually all hair follicles by the time a person reaches middle age, and in most cases cause no harm. Researchers believe that the difference between people who lose their hair and those who do not may lie in how the scalp reacts to the presence of these mites. If the body initiates the inflammatory response as it tries to reject the mites, this may close down the hair follicles, thus killing the mites but also killing the hair. Severe fungal or bacterial infections can cause hair follicles to be replaced by scar tissue, as can injuries, burns, radiation therapy, and a number of diseases. Skin fungus, most often responsible for dandruff, may also cause hair loss.

Drugs

Various drugs can accelerate hair loss, including chemotherapy agents, birth control pills, anticoagulants, some blood-pressure and anti-inflammatory medications, and the gout medication allopurinol (Zyloprim)
Chemicals such as hair dyes may also contribute. Toxins such as excess alcohol, drugs of abuse, steroids and anticancer drugs can all cause the hair to fall.  Possibly overuse of hairsprays or gels may be a further factor.

Additional factors that promote hair loss include poor circulation, acute illness, surgery, radiation exposure, skin disease, sudden weight loss, high fever, iron deficiency, diabetes, stress, poor diet, ringworm and other fungal infections. Pathological causes may vary from overwashing, medicated or poor quality shampoo, persistent use of hair dryers, especially in association with the current hair design or cutting. Nutritional deficiencies of minerals (especially sulphur), proteins and vitamins may all cause hair to thin; and the general care of hair.

Considerations

• Feel assured that if hair loss is associated with physiological causes the hair will regrow.