Causes for Hair Loss

At some point of their life, most men have encountered the problem of hair loss to some extent. A brief discussion of the normal cycle of hair growth should precede the analysis of factors inducing hair loss. Each hair grows at a rate of approximately one centimeter per month in the course of two to six years. About ninety percent of the hair is in the phase of growing, with just some ten percent of the hair on your scalp in a resting phase. In a period of two or three months, the resting hair halls out and new hairs start growing in its place. As a part of this cycle, we shed some hair everyday. A problem occurs when the process of natural hair loss becomes excessive.

 A number of factors can trigger the process of excessive hair loss. A temporary loss of large amounts of hair may occur about four months after some illness or major surgery, due to the high stress levels caused by the traumatic events.


 Hormonal problems can be a major hair loss factor. For instance, massive hair loss is among the symptoms of medical conditions related to the thyroid malfunctioning. The condition typically occurs when a person’s thyroid gland becomes overactive or underactive. Hair loss, caused by this condition, usually ceases in the course of a prescribed treatment. In addition, hair loss may signal an imbalance between male and female hormones (referred to as androgens and estrogens) and stops when the balance is restored.
 Hair loss may occur as a side effect of some medicines such as anticoagulants, medications for the treatment of gout, medicines used in cancer treatment, antidepressants, birth-control pills, and the over-dosage of vitamin A.

Hair loss in young boys may be a symptom of developing fungal infection of the scalp, which should be treated with antimycotics. The onset of hair loss may be preceded by some underlying diseases, for instance, lupus or diabetes. So, if persons suddenly start losing their hair, they’d better undergo a medical examination to determine the precise causes for their condition.