Hair does not really serve any important function since a person can certainly live without it! Yet, our hair and how it looks is a very important part of our self-image. So when a person loses their hair, it is a disturbing event. The life cycle of a single hair can be divided into a period of active growth, lasting several years, and a resting stage, which last 60 to 90 days. Of the normal scalp's 100,000 hairs, as many as 15 percent are in the resting mode, soon to be lost at the rate of about 75 hairs per day (hardly noticeable to people). The rate of hair loss does increase dramatically when the growing hair follicle is subjected to different types of internal stress, such as high fever, severe flu, surgery, crash diets, and certain medications. Most abnormal hair loss in younger people is caused by one of five conditions: alopecia areata, tinea capitis, traction alopecia, trichotillomania, and telogen effluvium. (Dermatologists love fancy names for their diseases!)

We normally have, on average, 100,000 hairs on our scalp. And as evinced by our changing hair lengths, roots and visits to our hairdressers, those hairs grow; in fact, 90 percent of our hair is actively growing at any given time. Hair is the second fastest growing tissue in our body after (I'd love for you to guess) ... bone marrow. To keep its place on your head, your hair needs the right conditions. (Note I didn't say conditioner.) You may find that you're unexpectedly losing hair if you impose restrictions on hair growth or if your genes are such that continued hair growth is not in your destiny. There's a simple test you can do to help determine whether you are losing hair, it's just thinning or you are damaging it by abusive hair products or pulling it too tight (which can occur with braiding). Pull on several strands of your hair - do they come out easily at the root? If so, it suggests that the hairs are indeed "shedding" and have gone into what we call an excess telogen phase.

For men who are concerned at the earliest indication of hair loss, it might be well to consider the last question first: “If I begin to develop male-pattern baldness, how soon should I begin to consider hair transplants?” The decision to have hair transplantation should not be made as a snap judgment. No ethical physician hair restoration specialist would allow you to do so. No one should use your concern about hair loss to sell or pressure you into a decision to have hair transplants.

Hair loss and baldness, which doctors call alopecia, is a common problem for both men and women and has many causes. People's reaction to hair loss is a very personal issue - different people react differently. Some people become very distressed as they believe it makes them look older and less attractive, affecting their body image and self-esteem. Others are not as concerned. However, treatments are available for many of the different types of hair loss.

When used with oral contraceptives, the male hair-loss medication finasteride (brand-named Propecia) may also help improve hair loss in women, Italian researchers report. "This treatment was well accepted by the patients, who judged the results to be even better than the investigators," a team from the University of Bologna reported in the March issue of the journal Archives of Dermatology. The study included 37 women, ages 19 to 50, who took 2.5 milligrams of finasteride by mouth daily, along with an oral contraceptive. The contraceptive was necessary because finasteride is known to cause birth defects. The contraceptive used in the study was a type that also reduces levels of male hormones (which also circulate at small amounts in women). The researchers believed that might also help reduce hair loss in the women.

Recent evidence indicates that male-pattern baldness is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Since most people reading this book suffer from androgenic alopecia, it's a good idea to review what the current medical literature has to say about the association between male pattern baldness and heart disease. In addition, what we can do to lower the risk of heart disease will also be discussed. I would like to clarify one thing before proceeding. As an author, my primary goal in the process of writing this book was to provide the reader with as much information as possible on the subject of hair loss. As a physician, I cannot ignore the association between heart disease and androgenic alopecia. Although this chapter does not directly discuss hair loss, I strongly urge you to read it. In many ways, it just might be the most important chapter in this book.

Taking full care of your hair but can't stop it from falling? Scared, that you might just end up going bald, but don't know the reason behind hair loss? Well, the reason, if you are a woman, is your stressful life. A survey into women's attitudes concerning health, beauty and celebrity culture carried out by vitamin supplement makers Vitabiotics Perfectil, has found that a large number of women are going bald and it is all because of their busy lifestyles and modern diets.

Alopecia, which means hair loss, is of epidemic proportion for many women of color. Although there have been magazine articles and television segments about alopecia, it continues to be poorly understood by many women. There are many different causes of alopecia that affect women with brown skin. However, there are two types of hair loss that women with curly or tightly coiled hair are plagued with: central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia. Alopecia is a devastating condition for all women, despite the cause. All women want to have their own healthy hair. Hair loss effects self-esteem, social interactions and relationships.

People whose skin has been scarred by burns, certain diseases, radiation therapy, or other injuries may develop cicatricial alopecia. Scar tissue forms when some part of the dermis is destroyed. The dermis is the second layer of the skin, and contains the hair follicles. In addition to burns and other injuries, cicatricial alopecia can be caused by certain types of infections, called granulomas; lupus erythematosus; recurring bacterial or fungal infections; a skin disease called lichen planus; and scalp ringworm.

Results released today from an informal investigation conducted over the last four years indicates that individuals who suffer from hair loss believe their appearance negatively impacts virtually every part of their lives. Conducted by Farrell Hair, an international company with salons that specialize in custom, non-surgical hair replacement systems, the study reinforces the trend which Richard Farrell, President of Farrell Hair, has been witnessing first-hand. "The pain of hair loss knows no age limits, no ethnic or gender exemptions," said Farrell. "Imagine waking up one day and realizing you are drastically losing your hair, or worse, that you are bald? These people feel disfigured and devastated!

While your mom will tell you it's what's inside that counts, the simple fact is that appearance has an important impact in both business and social situations. For men, one of the key factors in projecting an air of youth, power and virility is a healthy head of hair. Unfortunately, for 50 million men in the United States, male pattern baldness, the most common cause of hair loss in men, is in their genes. Some men experience male pattern baldness while still in their teens, and it becomes more common as men age. Forty percent of men have noticeable hair loss by age 35; by age 60, it's 65 percent.

About 90 percent of hair on the scalp grows continually. The other 10 percent of scalp hair is in a resting phase that lasts two to three months. At the end of the resting stage, this hair is shed. Shedding 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal. When a hair is shed, it is replaced by a new hair from the same follicle and the growing cycle starts again. Scalp hair grows about one-half inch a month. As people age, the rate of hair growth slows.

(CBS) The average person loses between 50 and 100 hairs a day. But, as we know, many folks lose a whole lot more than that. And while some are comfortable with that prospect, others are not. We've all know some of them: the men and women coping with thinning or balding hair any way they can. While there have long been many options to choose from, never before have the results been so realistic. Technology's come a long way, but then again, never before has a shaved head been so sexy. Telly Savalas may have kicked off the trend in the 1970s as the bald police detective with the lollipop in Kojak, but today everyone seems to be taking it off.

Eyebrows frame the face. Your entire appearance can change if you lose your beautiful brows. Have you been told that you lost your eyebrows because you over-plucked? While over-plucking may certainly lead to diminished growth of the brows, did you know there are a variety of conditions that can result in the temporary or permanent loss of eyebrows? Hair will be lost by a variety of situations that affect its growth cycle, or the area from which it grows. Should you take medication that stops hair growth, such as chemotherapy, you can lose hair. Or if you have a skin condition that causes significant inflammation within the area, the hair can fall out in response to the problem. A skin disease in which foreign tissue or cells come into the area may push the hair out in attempt to overtake the area. Certain hormonal or endocrine conditions can also wreak havoc on the hair follicles in this area. Autoimmune disease in which the body turns on itself may also lead to a loss of hair. So too, can some infections.

Dr. Robert Leonard, Founder and Chief Surgeon of Leonard Hair Transplant Associates with offices in MA, RI and NH, announced today the availability of a new genetic test for male pattern baldness. Dr. Leonard is the only hair surgeon in New England to offer this to patients. Dr. Robert Leonard stated, "Fifty percent of men in America will be affected by genetic male pattern baldness. This exciting new tool enables young people who may be concerned about hair loss to genetically view their 'family tree'. Then we can make informed decisions and be proactive in treating male pattern baldness."

It appears that balding men have more to worry about than their vanity. The largest study to date concludes that male pattern baldness is associated with an increased risk for heart disease. The more the hair loss, the higher the possible risk, according to researchers from the Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Age seems to make no difference.

Chances are, you've seen the commercials for Propecia, the newest treatment for male-pattern baldness. Along with all the glowing testimony from men who say it has changed their lives comes a warning that it is for men only and that women should not even touch the tablets. Sounds pretty scary, doesn't it? You may have nightmares about waking up one morning with two heads if your husband even brings the stuff into the house. Well, worry no longer. The truth about Propecia is here. Propecia, chemical name finasteride, is produced by Merck and was cleared by the FDA in late 1997 for sale in the U.S. It is available only by prescription to male patients.

Hair loss is a natural part of the body's process of renewal. As some hair falls out, new growth replaces it. However, this process may be accelerated by a number of conditions. Hormonal changes may contribute to rapid hair loss, such as during pregnancy or childbirth, or even when coming off the Pill. As these fluctuations in hormone levels drop off, the hair loss should clear up, so the condition is only temporary. In a recent study, hormone levels were studied in both male and female patients experiencing severe hair loss. The research points towards a complex interaction between sex and thyroid hormones that may lead to the condition. Stress is another factor linked to hair loss. While it has not been proved definitively, emotional trauma has been loosely associated with hair loss, but milder strains and worries probably do the same thing. Stresses placed on the body may also cause a woman's hair to jump ship. For example, crash dieting, in which a woman loses a large amount of weight rapidly, may also cause her to lose her tresses, too. Since stress is often transient, if its cause clears up, the resultant hair loss should disappear as well.

When children lose their hair, whether as a result of medical treatments, health conditions, or burn accidents, they don’t just suffer physically. The change in their appearance can drastically undermine their self-image and sabotage their self-esteem. To combat this additional trauma, Certified Cosmetic Therapist™ Jeffrey Paul founded Wigs for Kids, a nonprofit organization that has been serving children suffering from hair loss since 1980. Wigs for Kids is a cooperative effort among Certified Cosmetic Therapists™ throughout North America who share a common goal.  “Children shouldn’t have to worry about how they look, especially when they’re in the middle of a health crisis,” says Jeffrey Paul. “We want to give these kids the opportunity to feel good about themselves again.”

Since time immemorial hair is seen as a reflection of a person's overall attractiveness and vitality and in today's celebrity-driven look-good culture there's no wonder that losing it causes a great deal of distress. Alopecia is the term used to describe all forms of hair loss and baldness, of which there are several different types. Most hair loss is down to the ageing process and/or hormonal changes, and is not a disease. Alopecia can be genetically inherited, or caused by a number of lifestyle factors such as diet, hormonal imbalances (increased production of male hormones, thyroid disorders) or stress. However, according to the Institute of Trichologists, hair loss could also be the first sign of an otherwise undiagnosed or undetected underlying illness so it's worth visiting your GP to get checked out.

Hair restoration procedures and treatments can reverse the appearance of aging associated with hair loss and restore a more youthful look—for women, men and people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. Dermatologists and dermatologic surgeons can help each patient with hair loss select an appropriate hair restoration treatment. Reasons for Hair Loss By far the most common reason for loss of scalp hair is androgenetic alopecia. About 50 million men in the U.S. have scalp hair loss due to male-pattern androgenetic alopecia (male-pattern baldness). More than 30 million women in the U.S. have scalp hair loss due to female-pattern baldness. Androgenetic alopecia is an inherited condition—that is, it "runs in the family."

Our hair is not just an aesthetic accessory, a style and colour which creates our identity. It’s also a barometer of health and lifestyle. Illness, poor nutrition, lack of regular exercise, smoking, alcohol and adverse reactions to stress or allergies can all interrupt the growth cycle and cause it to fall out. Changes in hormones, the body's chemical messengers, are also big protagonists when it comes to hair loss. Especially Oestrogens and Androgens (female and male) the sex-related ones. Hair is also at risk from external damage caused by chemicals, excessive traction or pulling either as an effect of hairstyling or a self-inflicted and damaging habit which is called trichotillomania, compulsive hair pulling.

The reason for the increase is Traction Alopecia, a hair loss condition caused by damage to the dermal papilla and hair follicle by constant pulling or tension over a long period. It often occurs in persons who wears tight braids, especially "cornrows" that lead to high tension, pulling and breakage of hair. This condition is most common in African-American women and men who braid their hair too tightly. It is also common in Sikh men of India and Japanese women whose traditional hair styles also pull and damage hair. Traction alopecia occurs more frequently in children, teenagers and young adults then it does in older women and men.

Be gentle with your hair. Avoid pulling it tightly. If pulled over a long period of time, scarring can occur resulting in permanent hair loss. If treatment does not correct the hair loss, you may opt for a wig, hairpiece, or hair weaving. If emotional stress is the cause, learn and practice stress-management techniques. Hair transplant—taking hair from the back and sides of the head and transplanting it in bald areas. As many as 300 grafts may be needed. You must return multiple times for the grafts. Scalp reduction with flaps—cutting the scalp and pulling the areas with hair closer together.

The British government is reportedly spending 1.85 million pounds ($3.5 million) for a Cambridge-based company that is building a robot to help treat baldness. The company, Biosciences firm Intercytex is developing a treatment where hair follicles from the back of the neck would be multiplied and replaced when they are needed. On Friday Intercytex announced the news the funds from the government's Technology Program, would be used in their efforts to develop a robotic system to speed up the process of multiplying the hair cells before they are replanted.

Bald spots occur when an isolated spot on the scalp loses hair. This can be caused by a number of factors. For example, hair loss can occur as a result of repeatedly pulling, tugging, or twistingthe hair into tight braids or pony tails. The kinds of bald spots that are created generally show no inflammation of the skin and are occasionally temporary. If you notice bald spots without scalp irritation and think it may be linked to your hair style, you might consider changing the style so your hair isn’t being pulled in a certain direction.

Alopecia is the medical term for baldness or hair loss. It can affect the entire scalp or smaller localised areas and may be temporary or permanent. Other parts of the body where hair normally grows can also be affected. Alopecia may have an underlying cause or may simply be part of the natural ageing process. The commonest form of alopecia is male-pattern baldness (also known as androgenic alopecia or common baldness). Male pattern baldness tends to run in families. It usually starts in the late 20s or early 30s. Initially there may be just some thinning of the hair and a receding hairline. Gradual hair loss occurs at the temples and crown of the head. Eventually, the bald spots increase in size until the entire top of the head is bald and hair remains on the back and sides of the head only. In some men, total baldness can occur. Men who start losing their hair at an early age tend to develop more extensive baldness.

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have found that the prostate specific antigen (PSA) cancer screening test is falsely lowered by a factor of two in middle-aged men who have taken Propecia (finasteride), a hair-loss drug used by more than 4 million men worldwide, for one year. These findings were published on Dec. 5, in Lancet Oncology online "For these men, the PSA level needs to be corrected, or the detection of prostate cancer may not occur until it is more aggressive," said Anthony D'Amico, Harvard Medical School professor of radiation oncology, chief of genitourinary radiation oncology at BWH, and lead author of the study. "It is also important to note that because PSA becomes a more accurate indicator for cancer presence when taking finasteride-containing drugs like Propecia, changes in PSA as low as 0.3 ng/ml in one year have been used to recommend a prostate biopsy."

How many times had I reassured patients about to undergo chemotherapy that their hair would grow back? Probably hundreds. In the meantime, fabulous wigs were available. "No one will ever know you're wearing a wig." Occasionally, I would secretly wonder why they were so inconsolable about losing renewable hair when they could potentially lose their lives. I had absolutely no comprehension of how devastating the physical changes associated with even early-stage cancer can be. There I was, engaged in a battle for my life, and weeping on day 21 of the first cycle of chemotherapy because my hair — which would grow back — was slithering away down the drain. Losing my hair was more upsetting than any of the other physical consequences of cancer therapy.

While androgenetic alopecia, a genetically determined condition that spurs balding, affects roughly 50% of men internationally, it's not the only cause. Before you start trolling the Internet for quick fixes, head to the dermatologist's office to rule out underlying medical problems, suggests Dr. Gene Rubinstein, a clinical instructor at UCLA, who is in private practice at the Dermatology and Laser Centre