Fact on Hair

What causes hair loss

· Normal activities like combing, brushing and shampooing

· Side effects of certain medications. Some women may experience hair loss when taking birth control pills. Certain medicines used to treat gout, blood pressure, heart disease, high fever and certain antibiotics can cause hair loss as well.

· Medical therapies (radiation, chemotherapy)

· Scalp infections or scars on the scalp (burns, repeated trauma). Fungal infection (tinea capitas), found particularly in children under the age of ten, appear first as a small red area which then spreads to form a crusty, appearance sometimes with a discharge. The area is very itchy. The fungus is found in animals or soil.

· Psychological or emotional condition. Trichotillomania is repetitive pulling of one's own hair. Trichorrhexis Nodosa is mechanical or chemical damage to the hair shaft, usually caused by a psychological problem resulting in the patient having a history of "chronic scratching" or manipulation of the hair.

· Vigorous hair styling
Chemicals used for perming, dying and straightening can cause damage to hair roots and hair texture. Besides, certain hairstyles, such as ponytails, which subject hair to excessive traction, can cause hair loss.

· Poor diet
Diets, which contain insufficient protein and folic acid or excessive vitamin A, can cause hair loss. Certain diseases (bulimia, anorexia) and crash diets can result in a person having inadequate nutrition.

· Childbirth
Some women may experience hair loss after delivery for a couple of months. It may be due to hormonal changes in the body. However, hair re-growth follows though it may take some time.

· Male-sex-hormone
For some men, certain parts of their scalp are sensitive to male sex hormone (testosterone). Testosterone is metabolised to DHT with the help of 5-alpha reductase. It is believed that DHT appears in the inner root of the hair follicle causing alopecia in male.

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A Hair Loss
B Type of hair loss
C What causes hair loss
D Sign and symptoms
E Introduction to skin and biology
F Follicular structure
G Dermal papilla
H Hair fiber