Hair loss usually develops gradually and may be patchy or all over (diffuse). You lose roughly 100 hairs from your head every day. The average scalp contains about 100,000 hairs.

Both men and women tend to lose hair thickness and amount as they age. Baldness is not usually caused by a disease. It is related to aging, heredity, and changes in the hormome, testosterone. Inherited or “pattern baldness” affects many more men than women. About one-half of men begin to bald by the time they are 30 years old, and most are either bald or have a balding pattern by age 60.

Causes

A sudden physical or emotional stress may cause one-half to three-quarters of the hair throughout your scalp to shed (called Telogen effluvium ). You will notice hair coming out in handfuls while you shampoo, comb, or run your hands through your hair. You may not notice this for weeks to months after the episode of stress. The hair shedding will decrease over 6 – 8 months.

Cause of this type of hair loss are:

• High fever or severe infection
• Childbirth
• Major surgery, major illness, sudden blood loss
• Severe emotional stress
• Crash diets, especially those that do not contain enough protein
• A number of medications, including retinoids, birth control pills, beta-blockers, certain antidepressants, NSAIDs (including iburpofen) and calcium channel blockers