Hair loss is common in older men, but it can affect people of all ages. Sometimes, even children and teens have conditions that cause large amounts of hair to fall out. Although losing your hair can be a source of great concern--especially if you're in your prime--it isn't always a sign of a serious problem. It is often temporary or easy to treat, according to KidsHealth.
Daily Hair Loss
In the average person, each hair grows about 1 cm per month in a phase that lasts 2 to 3 years, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. After the growing phase ends, the hair enters a "resting phase" for three to four months and falls out. A new hair begins a growing cycle in its place. Around 90 percent of the hair on your head is growing, 10 percent is resting, and an average of 50 to 100 hairs fall out every day.
Internal Causes
Male-pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss. Although it is common in older men, it can also occur naturally in females, teens and guys in their 20s and 30s, according to MayoClinic.com. In other cases, stressors, such as childbirth or surgery, can cause disruptions in the hair's growth cycle. Malnutrition, illnesses such as lupus, scalp infections, such as ringworm, and hormonal conditions, such as thyroid disease, can also cause hair loss, according to MayoClinic.com. Finally, alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that affects about 1.7 percent of the U.S. population, can cause hair loss, says MayoClinic.com.
External Causes
Even if an underlying illness doesn't cause hair loss, its medication can cause hair to fall out. The acne medication isotretinoin, the bipolar medication lithium, pills with amphetamines and chemotherapy drugs commonly cause hair loss, according to KidsHealth. Additionally, hair treatments, such as dyeing, bleaching, perming and straightening, use chemicals that can cause damage and may lead the hair to break off or fall out for good, according to MayoClinic.com. Hairstyles that involve tightly pulling the scalp can cause a condition known as traction alopecia, which may cause permanent hair loss.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will ask you questions about your diet, inquire about any medications you're taking, ask about any other symptoms or medical problems you've had and ask you about your hair care methods, says the American Academy of Family Physicians. If you are female, your doctor might ask you about your menstrual cycle and pregnancies. He may also do a physical exam, take blood tests, or do a biopsy of your scalp to get a better idea of what could be causing your hair to fall out.
Treatment
The treatment you receive will depend on what's causing your hair to fall out. If a medication is responsible, for example, your doctor may recommend switching medications. If you have an infection, she may prescribe an oral antibiotic or medicated cream. She may also prescribe a medication, such as minoxidil, to prevent or slow down hair loss, or encourage you to buy a wig or other form of artificial hair replacement if your loss of hair is distressing you.
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