No two types of hair are the same. Likewise causes for hair fall are varied. Listed below are some of the most common hair fall causes prevailing today.

You experience Androgenic Alopecia when:

• Stressful lifestyles cause an increase in the levels of male hormones (testosterone - present in both men and women) in the body
• The condition is progressive and is commonly found to run in families, indicating a genetic predisposition
• Androgenic Alopecia is the most common type of hair fall and is also referred to as male or female pattern baldness

Male Pattern Baldness

• When men between 25-40 years begin to lose hair in the scalp, chances are that one is a victim of male pattern baldness
• Often it is a result of natural age related changes or hormonal changes and represents over 95% of all hair loss in men
• The effect of hormones causes hair to thin and fall out, starting at the front of scalp and slowly progressing towards the back and top of the head
• When an enlarged bald spot appear on the top of the head, it is an advanced stage (stage III) of male pattern baldness
• Male pattern baldness is progressive, and if ignored will develop into the following stages

Female Pattern Baldness

• Alopecia in women is due to the effects of androgens (male hormones) on scalp hair follicles
• The condition in women is not as easily recognizable as the pattern of hair loss in men
• Hair loss in women can be temporary (due to pregnancy or illness) and sometimes permanent
• Hair loss or hair thinning in women is a result of physical or mental stress and may not be genetically associated
• In women, bald spots or receding hairline do not occur. But the hair thins considerably all around the head
• If left untreated, the condition will progress to further hair loss. The right solution can help control Alopecia
• Loss of scalp hair in female may begin at any age and there is no specific pattern

You experience Telogen Effluvium when:

• Large amounts of hair simultaneously enter the resting phase and shed excessively within 3-6 months
• Telogen is referred to as the resting stage of a hair growth cycle
• It is most common in women and is often a result of stress or trauma occurring from chemotherapy, childbirth, puberty, major surgery or chronic illness including severe dieting, diabetes and intake of certain drugs
• If more than 4 or 5 strands of hair come out each time you pull hair, it’s likely that you are a victim of telogen effluvium
• In this condition a person will shed more than 300 strands a day (over and above the normal count of 50-100 hair strands)
• Telogen Effluvium can be acute or chronic

Acute Telogen Effluvium

If you have been experiencing hair fall for less than six months, it is the beginning stage of a condition referred to as Acute Telogen Effluvium. Once the resting phase shifts to the growing phase, the hair begins to grow back. Usually when the cause or reason for stress is addressed, the shedding pattern will slowly and steadily decreases over time. But if you have chemically treated hair recently the shedding will continue for a longer period. It is advisable to seek medical guidance.

Chronic Telogen Effluvium

Telogen Effluvium is acute when excessive hair fall continues over six months, sometimes lasting up to 7 years. This occurs when side effects of medication or the stress factors are prolonged. Another reason could be the hair subjected to chemical treatments during the acute stage. To avoid such a condition, identify the cause of hair fall and consult a dermatologist for advice.

Telogen Effluvium

You experience Alopecia Areata when:

• Hair fall is falling out in small and smooth round patches on the scalp or the body
• Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition - the body’s immune cells attack certain body parts. The hair growing tissues, in this case
• This condition is known to affect women; men at all age and sometimes even children

Alopecia Areata

You experience Traction Alopecia when:

• Hair is subjected to excessive and severe pulling
• Being a slow and gradual process of hair fall, Traction Alopecia is most common amongst women who braid or knot their hair tightly
• Itchy scalp, tension headaches, hair breakage and random bald patches are the common symptoms of Traction Alopecia
• It is advisable to avoid such hairstyles frequently or for prolonged periods of time

Traction Alopecia

You experience Anagen Effluvium when:

• Subjected to severe medical treatment like chemotherapy or radiation therapy
• In this form of hair loss, patchy areas appear initially and then advance to total hair loss
• The chemical that is administered actually kills the hair follicle and the anagen hair (active growing hair)
• Such hair loss is reversible and when the chemotherapy or radiotherapy stops, the hair returns back to normal after a few months

You could also be a victim to these types of hair fall:

• Trichotillomania:
  Often seen among children, this is a form of hair fall due to Intentional pulling of hair


• Scarring Alopecia:
  Certain infection cause hair follicles to swell, thus leading to rough patches on the scalp and eventually hair fall