Most people lose between 50 and 100 strands of hair daily, with little impact. As hairs fall out naturally, new hairs grow in. So there is no need to despair if you spot a hair or two in your sink. However, with age this natural regrowth process may slow or stop, and thinning and baldness may occur. If you are concerned about it, see your doctor for an evaluation to find out if your hair loss is due to an underlying medical disorder.

Most doctors believe men should think deeply before using any remedies for hair loss because the treatment options are so limited.

Baldness isn't a life-threatening condition, and it is easy to spend a lot of money trying to restore a full head of hair.

While it's all very well being told how you ought to feel about the loss of your hair, if it starts to dint your self-esteem, it's probably worth seeking treatment.

Like your skin and nails, your hair goes through a finely tuned cycle of growth and rest. Excessive hair loss can occur at any time this delicate cycle is upset.

Different types of baldness

# female-pattern baldness
Although less common, female-pattern baldness differs from that of male-pattern baldness in that the hair generally thins all over the head, but the frontal hairline is maintained. Female-pattern baldness rarely results in total hair loss.

# male-pattern baldness
Male-pattern baldness usually is a hereditary condition. The condition may begin at any age. Hair loss often begins on the front, sides, and/or on the crown of the head. Some men may develop a bald spot or just a receding hair line, while others may lose all of their hair.

Most men are genetically predisposed to male pattern baldness. It is the effect of hormones on the hair follicle that produces male pattern baldness. Testosterone, a hormone that is present in high levels in males after puberty, is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. DHT has an adverse affect on the hair follicles. Acting on a hormone receptor on the hair follicle it slows down hair production and produces weak, shorter hair, sometimes it stops hair growth from the follicle completely. This process gradually depletes your stock of hair and i

Baldness has always been a hot topic in boardrooms, bedrooms, laboratories. As Melbourne dermatologist Dr Rodney Sinclair points out, it has been a prime matter of conversation "for about 1000 years".

Hippocrates noted that castration saved the eunuchs in the Persian army from baldness - but stopped short of recommending it as a treatment. The belief that a hairless scalp is a sign of manliness has persisted, however.
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In business, baldies do well, and the fashion for aggressively shaved heads looks like an attempt by men to reassert their dwindling authority.

Causes of hair loss

There are many causes of scalp hair loss. This article will cover the common ones.

In general, most hair loss is not associated with systemic or internal disease, nor is poor diet a frequent factor. Thyroid disease can cause hair loss, but thyroid tests on people who have ordinary hair loss are usually normal. Although many medications list "hair loss" among their potential side effects, drugs are also not overall common causes of thinning or lost hair. On the other hand, with cancer treatments and immune suppression medications, hair loss is not uncommon.