General Hair loss is a natural process and not easily perceived as your hair grows continuously. Although thinning of hair is common in aged men and women baldness is typically a male phenomenon and is hormonal in nature. Alopecia is the technical term for any abnormal form of hair loss.

The Typical Hair Loss Process

The hair, which is fabricated by the follicle, thrives in a milieu of supple collagen.

• To ensure growth of hair in each new cycle, the follicle must be implanted deeply in the scalp.



• Under the effect of a disturbance, the collagen accumulates and rigidifies (hardens) around the follicle and its base, preventing it from being correctly implanted in the scalp during the new growth phase.



• Cycle after cycle, the hair follicle is implanted less and less deeply into the scalp and is constantly pushed back up to the surface, thereby leading to premature loss of hair.

Areata
This is known as spot baldness. It begins with degeneration of protein (keratin) deposit in the hair shaft, the hair follicles and finally the alteration of the growth cycles. It mostly occurs in patches but in very serious cases can cause total loss of hair. This is reversible form of hair loss. Included among the known causes for this alopecia are local infections, stress, physical shock and prolonged illness. This can affect both men and women.

Totalis
This type of Alopecia involves complete loss of Hair on the Scalp

Universalis
This type of alopecia involves the loss of all body hair. This type of drastic hair loss involves the lack of eyebrows, eyelashes, facial and body hair as well as complete hair loss on the top of the head.

Senilis
It is a form of baldness occurring in old age. This loss of hair is permanent.

Prematura
It is the form of baldness, beginning any time before middle age with slow thinning process. This condition is caused by the first hairs falling out and being replaced by weaker ones.

Androgenica Alopecia
In this form of Alopecia the hair recedes from the front of the scalp and progress backwards. This is often accompanied by the deterioration of the individual hair shafts and a marked narrowing in its diameter, leaving very fine hair, which is invisible to the naked eye. The above situation is due to excess of testosterone, which works with an enzyme to block the uptake of nutrients to the hair bulb, without which the bulb will die, and the hair falls out.

Telogen Effluvium
This occurs when a large number of hair follicles enter the Telogen stage. (Normal percentage of Hair Loss during the Telogen Stage is approx. 12% while that during this condition is over 40%). This mainly occurs when a person has had a severe psychophysical shock.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy treatment is a cancer related treatment due to which your hair follicles weakens, which causes your hair to fall out much more quickly than normal. Depending on the type of treatment you receive, hair loss may start anywhere from seven to 21 days after treatment begins. Your hair will start to grow back when you are finished with chemotherapy, but it may take six to 12 months to grow back completely. It may even have a different texture - for example, curly hair can grow back straight or dark hair can become lighter. These changes are usually not permanent.

Hormonal Imbalance
Considerable number of men and women having hair loss belong to this category. Certain hormones enter the hair cells and prevent them from growing as well as they should, due to which there is a thinning on the front and top of the scalp. In order to treat the same it's best advised to call on your Physician.

Child Birth
Due to the fluctuation of hormonal levels during the first eight months after childbirth women experience a marked increase in hair fall. If the rate of hair fall is high it is advisable to contact your Gynaecologist. In normal situations, after the eight months the hair will grow back.

Stress Related
Stress is an invariable part of life, it's all in the mind and depends on how you can take care of it. Stress related Hair Loss effects both Men and Women. There is reasonable scientific evidence to show that stress can alter the uptake of certain trace elements and amino acids essential for hair growth. This accounts for 30% of hair loss in women but it can re-grow if the nutritional imbalance is corrected. There is experimental data to show that high stress levels can increase levels of the hormone prolactin in women and this appears to influence the uptake of testosterone and its metabolism. This can lead to thinning of hair by varying degrees.

Physical and Chemical Treatments
Unprofessional and misguided use of Heated Rollers, Hair Dryers, Bleaching / Perming / Streaking Agents, Beauty Products, etc. mistreat and damage the hair and scalp. Not only do they cause hair loss and scalp disorders but also leave the hair dry brittle and split.

Insufficient Supply Of Nutrients
Lack of Vitamins, Minerals, an unbalanced diet, infectious diseases etc can be major reasons for hair loss. Insufficient Supply of Metabolic Substances is another contributor to abnormal hair fallout.

Exposure To Artificial and Natural Elements
Exposure to strong winds, harsh rays of the sun, artificial light and air conditioning can have a drying and damaging effect on the hair and scalp.