While there are a known number of causes for alopecia, finding a cure has proven more difficult. We look at the reasons why you might be losing your hair, and some tips to help you cope with it.

Causes

From mild thinning to total loss of all hair from the head and body, hair loss can happen to anyone. While daily hair loss is common – on average we all tend to lose about 100 hairs a day – alopecia occurs when the hair that fall out is not replaced by natural regrowth.

There’s no doubt that a healthy head of hair makes us feel younger and more attractive. So it’s not surprising that hair loss can be a devastating blow. While there’s a 57% chance of the baldness gene being hereditary – and therefore out of our control – it can still play havoc with our confidence.

There are a couple of common types of hair loss. The most common form is “pattern hair loss” which is driven by genetics and hormones. Much less common is an auto-immune condition, which results in the body attacking its own hair follicles, causing the hair to fall out.

Pattern hair loss

In, 95% of  men with thinning hair, pattern hair loss is to blame. This is when hair recedes from the hairline, and at the same time the hair on the crown starts to thin, eventually leading to the classic “horseshoe” look. Pattern hair loss is largely based on genetic factors, and likelihood increases with age. By age 35, two-thirds of men will have noticed some degree of hair loss.

In women, hair loss takes the form of thinning on all areas of the scalp, rather than in a distinctive pattern.

Hormones play a major role in the cause of baldness in men and women.

These types of thinning are triggered by the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This type of testosterone is responsible for body and facial hair growth. Any change to the way DHT is metabolised in the body can affects the hair follicle. The growth phase is shortened, new hairs prevented from growing, causing thinning and eventually the follicle goes completely dormant.

Apart from DHT, other hormones include those found in the contraceptive pill, hormone replacement therapy, steroids and acne medication.

Trauma

But it’s not just hormones that cause hair loss. Major physical trauma – including childbirth, malnutrition, surgery or extreme stress can cause the hair to move from the growing phase of hair growth into the shedding phase. This is called “telogen effluvium” and can affect up to 90% of a person’s hair. As a result, you may find yourself shedding hair by the handful. While it’s possible to recover from this type of hair loss, for some women telogen effluvium is a chronic disorder which can persist for months or years.

Another form of hair loss is common after chemotherapy. Because chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cancer cells, it also targets other dividing cells such as hair follicles in the growing phase. Up to 90% of hair can fall out as a result of chemotherapy.

Another form of hair loss occurs after localised trauma to the hair follicles. Braiding, corn rows and tight ponytails can all contribute to hair loss over time, while your hairdryer can weaken the cuticle of the hair and cause it to break off.

Diagnosis

Men and women who suffer from pattern hair loss don’t require testing – family history is usually evidence enough.

But for other forms of hair loss there are some tests you can undergo to confirm a diagnosis. A “pull test” or “pluck test” test the strength of the hair’s attachment to the scalp. The roots of the hair are examined under a microscope to determine the cause, and your doctor can order a biopsy if the diagnosis is uncertain.

Daily hair counts – when fallen hair is collected and counted – can be done if all other tests prove negative.

Consult your doctor or dermatologist (Find one near you here), to diagnose a genetic or health-related cause.

Treatment

If you really want a lush head of hair, there are options – albeit painful and expensive ones. Hair transplantation is the process of moving healthy hair from the back and sides of the head to the area of thinning. These transplants carry a risk of infection and scarring, plus it takes a few months before the procedure can be declared a success.

Living with hair loss

But the best way to deal with hair loss? Accept it. This is easier for men, with shaved and stubbly heads becoming fashionable. But for women, as well as those suffering the effects of chemotherapy, a wig or headscarf can disguise hair loss. High quality wigs, however are very expensive.You can find a supplier here.

Tips to help you hold on to your hair

• Dry your hair gently. Pat dry, don’t rub, your scalp,
• Don’t wash your hair every day. Too much shampoo can break down the natural structure of your hair,
• Keep your hair short to maximise coverage. Longer hair accentuates the hair loss,
• Don’t over-brush your hair,
• Be wary of baldness "cures",
• Adopt a balanced diet to strengthen your body and immune system,
• Try not to worry about your hair loss – stressing out might make it worse!