Hair loss is a sometimes inevitable part of life for some people who have a hereditary hair loss condition. There are many conditions that cause hair loss however. Some of the most common reasons are described by the Mayo Clinic as the following:
Pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). In male- and female-pattern baldness, the time of growth shortens, and the hairs are not as thick or sturdy. With each growth cycle, the hairs become rooted more superficially and more easily fall out. Heredity likely plays a key role.
Cicatricial (scarring) alopecia. This type of permanent hair loss occurs when inflammation damages and scars the hair follicle. This prevents new hair from growing.
Alopecia areata. This is classified as an autoimmune disease, but the cause is unknown. People who develop alopecia areata are generally in good health. A few people may have other autoimmune disorders including thyroid disease.
Telogen effluvium. This type of hair loss is usually due to a change in your normal hair cycle. It may occur when some type of shock to your system — emotional or physical — causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state. The affected growing hairs from these hair roots fall out.
Traction alopecia. Excessive hairstyling or hairstyles that pull your hair too tightly cause traction alopecia. If the pulling is stopped before there’s scarring of your scalp and permanent damage to the root, hair usually grows back normally.
As soon as you start to notice hair loss, you should see your doctor. If you have a condition like thyroid disease for example, the addition of thyroid support supplements can stop and reverse hair loss. When too much hair is lost, it is more difficult to re-grow and reverse the loss.