[tiadesai]

The general reasons for hair loss given by the medical profession, is as follows, probably in descending order.

Heredity factors

Ageing

Hormonal Imbalance

Illness and infectious diseases

Nervous disorders

Toxic substances

Injury and impairment

Severe radiation

Each of these problems can be a contributory factor towards hair loss, if there is a combination of two or more then the chances of hair loss are increased considerably.

[isol]

Hey! Talking about toxins as one of the reasons causing hair loss, it reminds me that smoking is a main reason behind hair loss too and continuous exposure to it may cause alopecia and scarcity of hair follicles.
Moreover, I found some ordinary daily dos like hot oil treatments, large quantity of Vitamin A intake or strong medication as reasons too. I know what a blessing a ponytail or pigtail maybe when you are in a hurry, but think twice now, for if it is putting pressure on your scalp or hair, it is doing more harm than good.
More bad news here - hot rollers, curling iron and even hair dryers may induce hair fall, so control those urges as much as you can.
A final tip, hair loss may indicate serious illnesses such as lupus or diabetes, so do not neglect it.

[mcmama]

In my family, men's hair loss is hereditary. All the men in my mother's family are like this.
My boys aren't bald yet, but they look at their relatives and see the future. I think they plan to shave their heads at that time rather than have that fringe which they consider "uncool".

[charlie76]

in 2000 i was attacked by my pet rottweiler, the shock caused my hair to start falling out... i had to go and see a hair specialist about it, i didnt have any bald patches just serious thinning, anyway this lasted about 3 months, then in 2003 i had more major stress and the same thing happened... and again stopped after 3 months. then i gave birth in 2006 and my hair started to fall out again but is still doing it, and now im nearly at 6 months, it is very fightening but i try not to get to stressed about it as this will only make the matter worse, anyway back in 2000 the hair specialist that i had to see told me i had a condition called Telogen Effluvium.... here is the info on it.... hope it helps, it did me, because i found out a few things that i could do ( take vimatin b12, iron and folic acid) and not to take ibuprofen when i have a headache etc.......

Telogen Effluvium Hair Loss


It is normal to lose up to about 100 hairs a day on one's comb, brush, in the sink or on the pillow. This is the result of the normal hair growth cycle. Hairs will grow for a few years, then rest for a few months, shed, and regrow. Telogen is the name for the resting stage of the hair growth cycle. A telogen effluvium is when some stress causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state. Telogen effluvium can be acute or chronic.
If there is some "shock to the system", as many as 70% of the scalp hairs are then shed in large numbers about 2 months after the "shock". This sudden increase in hair loss, usually described as the hair coming out in handfuls, is acute telogen effluvium. This is a different problem than gradual genetic hair thinning. However, this can be seen in the less common chronic telogen effluvium, only after a significant amount of hair has already been lost.
A considerable number of different causes for telogen effluvium exist. Among the common causes are high fevers, childbirth, severe infections, severe chronic illness, severe psychological stress, major surgery or illnesses, over or under active thyroid gland, crash diets with inadequate protein, and a variety of medications. Most hair loss from medications is this type and causes include retinoids, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, antidepressants, and NSAIDS (including ibuprofen).
Typically, abrupt diffuse hair loss is noticed several weeks to several months after the incident has initiated the biologic program for hair loss. While the most often noticed hair loss occurs on the scalp, some individuals may also notice hair loss elsewhere on the body. Significant hair shedding usually occurs when shampooing, combing, or even when gently manipulating the hair. Shedding usually slowly decreases over 6 to 8 months once the cause for the hair loss is no longer present. As some of the causes represent ongoing problems, it is important to determine the likely cause when possible and take appropriate measures to prevent continued hair loss.
These shed or loose hairs all have club-shaped "roots" typical of resting, telogen hairs and may be easily identified under the microscope. After shampooing, the bulk of existing loose hair has often been shed and loose hair may not again appear until additional hairs enter this resting phase. When there is any doubt about the presence of this condition, a small piece of skin may be taken from the scalp as a biopsy to be examined under the microscope. In this way, the condition of the hair follicles, the tissues that produce the hair, may be determined.
No treatment is needed for most cases of telogen effluvium. Remember that the hairs fall out when a new hair growing beneath it pushes it out. Thus with this type of hair loss, hair falling out is a sign of hair regrowth. As the new hair first comes up through the scalp and pushes out the dead hair a fine fringe of new hair is often evident along the forehead hairline.
The most important issue in telogen effluvium is to determine if an underlying cause for the problem is present. Blood tests may need to be done if the cause is not obvious, such as mild iron deficiency. If the telogen effluvium is caused by a medication, the medication needs to be stopped. When the cause of the hair loss is something like giving birth, a transient illness, or other self-limited problem the induced telogen effluvium is also usually self-limited and requires no treatment.
Chronic telogen effluvium is recently recognized and not uncommon. It often occurs in women who previously had very thick hair in their teens and twenties and still have an apparently normal head of hair to a casual observer. It affects the entire scalp with no obvious cause apparent. It usually affects women of 30 to 60 years of age, starts suddenly and has a tendency to fluctuate for a period of years. The degree of shedding is usually severe in the early stages and the hair may come out in handfuls. It does not cause complete baldness and does appear to be self-limiting in the long run.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, if you suffer with any type of hairloss my thoughts and prayers are with you, please try not to worry, i know this is easier said than done, i really do understand x claire x