There are many possible causes of hair loss.
Some of the common causes are autoimmune disorders, hormonal disorders, dietary deficiency, self inflicted hair pulling and scalp diseases.
The most common of all is androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness.
It is estimated that nearly one sixth of the adult men suffer from hereditary balding.
Women too have this problem, although the number is not as high as men.
Hair loss is a medical problem and if not treated, it could cause psycho-social and sexual implications.
Self esteem is seriously affected too, as does psychological stress, especially among women, who may be labeled as a loss of femininity and unattractiveness.
Lifestyle is also another factor contributing to hair loss.
Smoking, stress, late nights can aggravate hair loss.
Diets and poor nutrition may also cause hair loss if vital substances such as iron, zinc, carbohydrates and proteins are not adequately replaced during meals.
While saloon services like treatment, re-bonding and straightening may make a person's physical appearance much better, hair exposed to constant heat treatment may grow weaker as a result.
That is why hair enhancement treatments should not be done so often.
According the medical experts, there are two kinds of drugs that are proven to be able to slow down hair loss.
One of them is minoxidil, which is a lotion available at pharmacies, and finasteride, which are prescription pills.
But the end results are not that fast, usually a few months before apparent results can be seen.
Minoxidil works best on the top of the head and less on the frontal region.
There is not much side effect for minoxidil, hence this drug may help to grow a bit of hair although it is more on working to hold on to what is left on the scalp! Finasteride works only for men and has been proven to retain hair.
It may also grow or thicken the hair a little.
Non drug solutions include creative styling to hide hair loss and bald patches, temporary pieces or hair weaving.
Recently there is also a breakthrough method called hair transplants which is still a rather expensive process.
The transplanted hair in such a case is genetically resistant to balding.
Ultimately, the key to understanding hair loss is to view it like a symptom.
Determine the underlying cause of hair loss and treat the cause.
That is why consulting a dermatologist when hair loss occurs is highly recommended, and this will help to determine the root of the problem and the prescribed solution to the problem.