Hair Loss Research
Loss of hair is much more common in men than women. Causes can be from advancing age, genetic affects, systemic diseases, including loss from certain medications. Baldness in men is frequently an example of the genetic cause which runs in families. The hair begins to thin on the sides or near the front just above the forehead and continues to recede over the years. With some men the hair continues to recede so that the hair they have left is only the hair on the sides. The hair loss can start early in life, and usually the earlier it starts, the greater the hair loss. Some men have only a receding hair line whereas others go completely bald.
Systemic problems that cause hair loss could be from a severe vitamin shortage, from a severe illness with high fever, from taking heavy doses of some drugs, particularly from cancer drugs and chemotherapy. It could also happen to a woman in pregnancy. Many of these losses from systemic problems are temporary and will disappear a few months after the cause is eliminated.
Alopecia aerate is when the hair is lost suddenly for no apparent reason and could be in a small area or, in extreme cases, a loss of all the body hair. When the hair loss is minor it usually is temporary, but if it is widespread it may not come back. There are other conditions that cause hair loss which includes shampoos, excessive use of hair dryers, items that cause an allergic reaction, and creams or oils used on the hair, but most of these are minor and will disappear as soon as the cause is removed.
Identifying the cause of hair loss from an examination by the doctor usually is not successful and the doctor must perform a biopsy. Most types of baldness have no cure, but a person with the usual pattern of male or female baldness may transplant hair from one part of the body to the bald spots, and this works for a few people. Some men are able to benefit from the drug finasteride and also from saw palmetto for re-growth of hair. There are many other natural treatments that are available that have had varying degrees of success.
