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Causes of Hair Loss

About 25% of men begin to bald by the time they are 30 years old, and about two-thirds are either bald or have a balding pattern by age 60.

The average scalp contains about 100,000 hairs (blondes 140,000, brunettes 155,000 and redheads only 85,000). On average, about 100 hairs are lost from the head every day.

Each individual hair survives for an average of 4.5 years, during which time it grows about half an inch a month. Usually in its 5th year, the hair falls out and is replaced within 6 months by a new one.

Baldness, or alopecia, is most often caused by three determining factors:

1. Genes are believed to influence hair loss. Unlike what is popularly believed, hair loss is not solely inherited from the mother's side of the family. It can be inherited from either the mother or father. It is important to note, however, that the genes responsible for male pattern baldness have yet to be identified.

2. Hormones may play a role in hair loss. Hormones are biochemical substances produced by various glands throughout the body. In men, the presence of such hormones as androgens, testosterone, and DHT cause some hair follicles to regress and die.

3. Stress induced by traumatic experience, nutritional deficiency, or illness, can cause the rate of hair loss to increase. The regular, day-to-day stresses of life do not cause hair loss.

There exist many myths about the causes of hair loss. Here is a clarification of some of the most common hair loss misconceptions:

Myth: "I am less likely to go bald because my hair grows so quickly."
Fact: Although rapid hair growth may be a sign of good health, this is not an indication of whether you will experience hair loss or not.

Myth: "I will lose my hair if I wear hats frequently."
Fact: Such head pieces as hats and helmets do not cause hair loss. However, frequent use of hairpieces that are woven onto existing hair may eventually
cause hair loss.

Myth: "Frequent blow-drying will cause my hair to fall out."
Fact: Excessive blow-drying will cause your hair to become brittle, and more prone to breakage. However, this will not cause your hair to fall out in any way.

Myth: "If I shampoo too often, my hair will start to fall out."
Fact: Soap and water will never make your hair fall out. You may notice that you lose some hair in the shower, but it is normal to lose about 100 hairs a day.

Myth: "All hair transplants look fake and obvious."
Fact: Hair transplants that look like doll's hair are a part of outdated technology.
Today's hair transplants result in a natural-looking head of hair. This is thanks to
the use of thousands of tiny skin grafts used to recreate a natural hairline.

Myth: "A hair transplant is a long and painful process."
Fact: Technological advances have made the hair transplantation process comfortable and pain-free under local anesthesia. This allows the patient to watch TV or take a nap during the procedure. This hair restoration process is usually completed within one to four sessions.