Millions of Americans are affected by thinning hair and hair loss, called alopecia. Typically we think of men with the most common form of hair loss, male-pattern-baldness, as having a trait that is inherited from family members. But hair loss is not just a male problem. Hair loss can also affect women and children for a variety of reasons.

Hair Loss Causes

Thinning hair and sudden hair loss can be caused by any number of very different reasons. Stress related to illnesses can bring about a sudden change in ones hair and even affect a temporary hair loss. Hormone imbalances due to illness, even pregnancy and childbirth can cause another temporary form of hair loss that typically lasts only a brief period of time and is rather characteristic. We all are familiar with hair loss from chemotherapy treatment, and there are other drugs related to hair loss, as well.

Male-pattern-baldness, the type we associate with familial ties, is typically blamed on the paternal lineage, but there is an increasing body of scientific evidence supporting the idea that this type of hereditary hair loss may in fact be a product of the maternal lineage. A complex array of hormonal issues is to blame for male baldness of this type.

Hair loss is best discussed with a physician who can work with you to determine the cause characteristic to your case and explore the various treatment options available.

Hair Replacement

A popular and very viable treatment option for hair loss, especially in men with male pattern baldness, is surgical hair replacement. Healthy hair follicles are literally harvested from the back of the scalp and transplanted to the hairline and top of the scalp. A good portion of this treatment is determined on a patient-by-patient basis and is part medicine, part artistry on the part of the physician.

Products

For many though, including women and children, hair loss may not be treatable with surgical replacement methods. In these cases, there are scads of products on the market, some viable, some downright hokey.

Rogaine, or minoxidil, was originally developed as a treatment for high blood pressure. A documented side effect, though, was an increase in hair growth on various parts of the body. Since the drug was not very effective at treating its initial problem, researchers developed it instead as a treatment for hair loss. Taken in pill form, the brand name Rogaine has not been effective at replacing hair in totally bald areas of the scalp, but has been proven to thicken hair on other areas of the scalp where thinning has occurred.

The other mainstream product besides Rogaine is marketed under the brand name Propecia, or finasteride. Propecia was developed to treat prostate problems, but was observed to be more effective at stimulating hair growth, the same as monoxidil. The compounds in finasteride bind with a man's testosterone and alter the hormonal makeup, allowing hair re-growth.