Hair loss associated with the aging process brings to mind balding men, but hair loss is not exclusive to the male gender. Women also experience hair loss with aging, but the pattern of loss is different. It tends to be less regional and more diffuse over the scalp. Women virtually never become bald from this process, but sometimes the hair can become very thin, particularly if there is a strong family history of male pattern hair loss. Men, on the other hand, tend to lose hair initially at the temples and on the crown of the head. With time, the pattern of loss spreads from these regions until, in some men, a large portion of the head is bald. The best treatment for hair loss is taking Vitamin A,C ,E,Niacin,vitamin B5 and B12.

Two factors contribute to hair loss associated with the aging process. One is heredity With age, there is a genetic predisposition for hair loss, and this determines when, if ever, hair loss will begin. It is like an alarm clock which is set for different times in different people. This accounts for the wide variation in hair loss among people. Some begin to lose hair in their teens while others may never experience hair loss.

The second factor contributing to hair loss with age is hormonal sensitivity. With age, the hair follicle becomes hypersensitive to the normal levels of the male hormone androgen. This inhibits hair growth resulting in smaller, thinner hair as it passes through its developmental phases. Eventually, the hair becomes so small that it does not grow beyond the surface of the skin, giving the appearance of balding. The hair root is still viable and for this reason, male pattern baldness has been responsive to the drug minoxidil (Rogaine, Minoxigaine or Apogaine). It is not the hormones which are out of sync but rather the hair follicle which is too sensitive to the normal level of hormones.

Other common causes of hair loss unrelated to age are categorized as external and internal.
External Factors

External damage to the hair or skin can be caused by the rubbing of clothing such as helmets and protective equipment bleaches, dyes, and permanent curl solutions for the hair; tight hair styles which compromise the blood supply to the hair root; and hair care utensils, such as tight curlers, which pull or tear at the hair. External damage can usually be corrected simply by avoiding those factors which cause the problem.

Internal Factors

Internal causes include certain medications or drug therapies, such as chemotherapy for cancer, malnutrition, hormonal changes during pregnancy, iron deficiency, thyroid imbalance, and stress.

Internal causes must be identified before corrective measures can be taken. In some cases treating the internal cause will restore the normal growth of hair. If the hair does not grow back, then the use of topical minoxidil or hair transplant surgery can be tried, although the outlook is not always positive.

If sudden, extensive hair loss occurs, medical attention should be sought immediately, as the underlying cause may be serious.

Misconceptions

Misconceptions about hair loss are many, and it is time to dispel some of these myths:

Shampooing the hair frequently does not encourage balding. It simply removes those hairs that are ready to fall out. Excessive towelling or brushing and some hair care products may cause hair breakage which can mimic hair loss.

Dandruff (seborrhoeic dermatitis) does not cause balding, although cleansing away the scale in an area of balding seems to allow the fine hairs that were trapped under the scaly skin to surface. This fine, fuzz like hair does not tend to grow into longer, more mature hair.

Changing an already well balanced diet by eating more of one type of food, such as vegetables, will not stop hair loss associated with aging. Only in cases where diets are significantly deficient in a specific element such as zinc or iron will diffuse hair loss occur. Such a condition may also unmask male pattern hair loss earlier in individuals who are predisposed to it.

Male pattern hair loss may be inherited from either parent, not just the father. In some families, generations may be skipped.

Balding is not caused by wearing hats. The blood supply to the scalp is so extensive that any constriction that may occur from wearing headgear does not cause the problem. Hats, however, may result in breakage of the hair at the scalp, which gives a bald appearance.