Everyone loses hair every day.  Most people lose between 50 and 100 strands per day.  This can sometimes be because hair loss runs in the family or is genetic.  If hair loss is genetic in your family, you may lose a lot more hair than the average person.

Doctor Talking to Patient

Other factors can contribute to hair loss too, such as medications and certain illnesses.  Either one can cause more hair loss than normal.  Hair loss can be extremely tough for some individuals, because it can so drastically change the way a person looks.

Causes of Hair Loss

Causes of hair loss are important, because some of them can be prevented.  Whether it has to do with heredity, stress or something else, if you can do something to prevent or stop the hair loss, you’ll be much better in the long run.  This is where your family doctor may come in handy.  Sometimes your doctor can help determine exactly why you are losing your hair and can help you fix the problem.

Common Causes of Hair Loss Include:

• Heredity:  In most cases, hair loss is inherited.  That means that it is passed down from one or both of the individual’s parents.  In these cases, it is called male or female-pattern baldness.
• Stress:  This includes stress from illness, physical stress from surgery and a high fever associated with illness.
• Chemotherapy:  Can also cause hair loss.  It is a powerful medicine used in cancer treatment that can destroy cancer cells.
• Damage from Hairstyles:  You can damage your hair by pulling at too tightly with tight braids and ponytails.  Constantly wearing these types of hairdos can cause too much tension on your hair, which may cause damage or breakage.

If you think you may be suffering from hair loss or thinning hair, you must first decide whether or not your hair loss is unusual.  Learn to identify your diagnosis:

• Is your hair just thinner?
• Is your “part” wider?
• Is your hairline receding or different in some way?
• Are there any bald spots or patches, which appeared recently?
• Does thinning hair or hair loss run in your family?

If you are having problems with thinning hair, talk with your hairstylist first.  There are some very normal reasons why your hair may be thinning and your hairstylist can be of help in figuring out why.  If your hairstylist isn’t helpful, speak to your doctor, or do a combination of both.  Your doctor can help you determine if your hair loss is a result of something you’re doing, your dietary habits or an illness or disease.

Two Jars of Hair Product

One product that is being used for thinning hair is topical cover-ups, available as a spray, a cream or as particles. .

One such hair spray is a product called Toppik.  This spray actually forms tiny microfibers that look like hair and are actually made of a material called keratin, which is a hair like substance. This spray is easy to use, taking no more than a minute to apply and is available in many colors, such as blonde, black, and browns.  The only downfall may be it washes out easily, so continuous application would be required daily.

Another spray is Prothik, which is available in various color shades.  This spray works by again reducing the contrast with your hair and scalp, but it also adds thickness and fullness to thinning hair.  It will not rub off with exercise and can even be worn while swimming, but with shampoo and showering, it will rinse out.

Another possibility is a cream called Couvre, which is a concealing cream.  With this product, it conceals any coloring or contrast between your hair and your scalp, any balding part of your head.  It is safe to use following a hair transplant and is safe, non-greasy and does not rub off.  It does however come off when showering.

Finally, in the particle form, there are products which act as hair keratin forming a bonding with your existing hair.  One such example of this is Nanogen, which are fibers that are dyed to various hair colors and coated with a bonding material to promote static electricity.

With this product, you actually sprinkle the Nanogen fibers into your hair.  The fibers bind with your real hair and you can style as you wish, mostly by using your fingers and not a brush.  Once your hair is styled, there is a locking mist similar to a hair spray that helps bind the fibers to your hair.  It is been shown that these hair fibers are not visible.  They will stay in place all day and can withstand rain or wind.  However, they can also be easily removed with shampoo hair washing.

Another similar product is called Hair So Real, which is actually artificial hair particles that are sprinkled on your thinning hair.

These products are best used with thinning hair.  They help maintain fullness and reducing balding spots.  These products are not recommended for an area of complete hair loss.

Additionally, these products are only temporary fixes. They will all wash out with a thorough shower and shampoo.  However, they are great short term solutions.

Mother Holding Newborn

Because of the increase of estrogen during a pregnancy, most women notice a ‘glow’ about them. This boost in hormones actually helps a woman grow stronger, healthier looking nails and hair. Generally a woman may have tough, shiny hair to begin with, but because of the sudden increase of hormones upon conception all the way through months after birth, the body may neglect hair production and the woman may notice her hair thinning and falling out more often than usual.

Most of the time, the difference isn’t obvious to anyone but the woman until after delivery. As the body finishes cycling through pregnancy and attempts to regulate, more of its energy is spent on ridding itself of the unnecessary hormones still lingering long after the body has stopped producing them. This again, neglects the hair follicles and the production and maintenance of hair.

Now if the mother is breast-feeding, her chances for more hair loss increase because at this time, the body is focused not only on flushing out the extra hormones but also tasked with continuing to create the hormones needed for producing breast milk. This is why hair loss is more noticeable after delivery.

As with every pregnancy, each trimester can be completely different for a woman. One trimester she can grow luxurious, thick hair much faster than if she weren’t pregnant and then the next, her hair could start to thin and become limp and dull. One thing you want to remember, as with any symptom of pregnancy, is to tell your doctor. It may seem like a minimal or normal thing, but hair loss (and growth) is caused by many factors other than pregnancy. By telling your doctor, he can eliminate any other causes right away and ease your mind. That way, he can focus on more important issues, like your health and the development of your baby!

If hair loss seems to still plague you long after the delivery, there is help. If your communication has been great with your doctor, he should already know about it, but make sure to discuss it with him and keep him up-to-date on your progress. He can perform tests to discover the cause of your hair loss and find a solution for you. Have no fear ladies. As with most afflictions associated with pregnancy, i.e. gestational diabetes mellitus, pre-eclampsia, edema and high blood pressure, hair loss is a temporary burden that usually resolves itself in the months after delivery.

Woman Washing Man's Hair

Someone who notices thinning hair should speak to their hairstylist about what they may be doing physically that may be causing the hair loss.  Many hairstylists are great at helping their clients appropriately deal with thinning hair.

Some people don’t realize this, but many women suffer from hair loss too.  Unfortunately, men are more highly publicized.  In the 1980s, there weren’t many options for women, except for wigs.  Today, we now know that there are things that can be done if we discover hair loss or hair thinning early.  Sometimes the hair follicles can be revived before they die.

If you think you are losing more than 50 to 100 strands of hair a day, make a doctor’s appointment immediately to discuss possible options for treatment or to find out if treatment is even needed.

Things to Check for if You Hair is Thinning

• Pay attention to your doctor’s visits.  Do you have a hormonal imbalance?  Perhaps this is something you should have your doctor check out.  If you are already on medication for hormonal issues, this may also be the cause of your thinning hair and should be checked into.
• Pay close attention to how well you treat your hair on a regular basis.  Are you doing anything to your hair that may be causing permanent damage?  Tight ponytails and headbands can be bad for your hair, as well as chemical treatments, improper use of a heated styling tool and other tools, which can cause damage.
• What medications are you on? Sometimes medications can be the cause of thinning hair.  Check all of your medications to determine whether or not hair loss is a possible symptom.  Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure.
• Check your stress levels. Stress can cause hair to thin or fall out.  The reason stress causes hair loss is because stress affects the major organs, such as the heart.  Physical and mental traumas can also cause hair loss and thinning hair.
• What’s going on with your scalp? Talk to your hairstylist.  He or she can help you figure out what’s going on with your scalp that may be causing hair loss.

Are you noticing your hair loss?  What makes you think you’re losing more hair than you should be?  You may consider keeping a log or a journal regarding your hair care and practices.  It can help you determine what may be causing the hair loss.