The human head has about 100,000 hairs on the scalp, 90 percent of which are in the growth phase, or anagen stage, of the hair cycle. The remaining 10 percent are in the resting state, the catagen or telogen phase, ready to fall out if pulled or even if left alone for a long enough time. For most people, this is what accounts for the 100 or so hairs that shed each day. For others, hair loss may be an indication of something worse. You need to consider the possibilities if you find yourself with too many new fallen hairs every day.
Step 1
Examine your family's history of hair loss since the No. 1 cause of hair loss is heredity. Typically, males will inherit common or pattern baldness, also called androgenetic alopecia, from their mother's side of the family.
According to research by the University of Texas, 50 percent of white men by age 50 will experience a significant amount of hair loss for this reason. If you are of a certain age, which occurs earlier for Caucasians than other ethnic groups, and your mother's family has a history of early balding, then genetics may be your underlying cause.
Step 2
Determine if you have recently experienced prolonged stress from an emotional disturbance, surgery, pregnancy or high fever. Stress can imbalance the hormone androgen, especially for females, to the extent that it sends hair prematurely into the resting phases.
All at once, within a period of a week to four months after the trigger, you will experience a large amount of hair loss. Unlike androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium, or hair loss due to stress, is not permanent and will subside after enough time has passed since the stressor was removed.
Step 3
Consider what medications you are taking. Chemotherapy is the prototypical cause of hair loss; it can temporarily destroy new growth cells. However, you would know if you had chemotherapy. More likely, drugs that influence hormonal changes, such as birth control pills or steroids, as well as drugs that interact with nutrient absorption and anticoagulants (blood thinners) are the likelier culprits.
Your doctor will generally warn you of the side effects of a drug before administering it, but if you feel that a drug may be the cause of your hair loss, consult your doctor about stopping its use. If hair returns to normal after a few weeks, then this may have been the cause. Otherwise, continue looking for an answer.
Step 4
Watch how you manage your hair. Traction alopecia, or hair loss due to extreme stress on the hair roots, can be caused by tight braids, heavy hair chemicals or constant pulling of the hair. Usually, you can examine how you style your hair to determine if this is the cause.
Step 5
Be aware of any skin diseases or infections you may have developed. Scarring of the scalp, whether due to an accident or inflammation from a skin disease, may result in permanent hair loss in the scarred region. If you do not have any scars, then a possible fungal infection like ringworm may be the issue.
Hair loss will occur in only one location with the presence of a noticeable marking. Lastly, areata alopecia can randomly cause your autoimmune system to attack hair follicles at the roots, preventing new growth. This will result in patchy, usually circular bald spots that return to normal for most individuals in time.
Step 6
Explore your diet. An iron or protein deficiency, most frequently affecting people with anorexia, those with bowel disorders or people on a strict vegan diet, will result in hair loss. A supplement in these nutrients can cure this, but most normal adults and children do not experience hair loss for this reason.
Step 7
Look at your family history for thyroid conditions. If you have ruled out everything else, this may be your last possibility to explain your hair loss. See a doctor to have your thyroid checked.
Step 8
If you do not have a thyroid condition nor any of the other symptoms, then consider the likelihood your hair loss is just a part of aging. Everyone's hair thins and grows more fragile with age. For some, this happens earlier than others.
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