Many of us have suffered hair loss at least once in our lives. This phenomenon can be frightening as well as traumatizing for the person experiencing it. As women, we've always been told that hair is our crowning glory, so losing our hair is an experience none of us want to have.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it's a growing problem, affecting some 30 million women in the United States -- with some forms of loss occurring at earlier ages, and being seen in increasing numbers.



The main causes of hair loss are.

Alopecia

Alopecia areata is a condition that causes a person's hair to fall out. It is an autoimmune disease; that is, the person's immune system attacks their body, in this case, their hair follicles. When this happens, the person's hair begins to fall out, often in clumps the size and shape of a quarter. The extent of the hair loss varies; in some cases, it is only in a few spots. In others, the hair loss can be greater.

Poor Nutrition

Having inadequate protein or iron in your diet or poor nourishment in other ways can cause you to experience hair loss. Fad diets, crash diets and certain illnesses, such as eating disorders, can cause poor nutrition.

Medications

Certain drugs used to treat gout, arthritis, depression, heart problems and high blood pressure may cause hair loss in some people. Taking birth control pills also may result in hair loss for some women.

Medical Treatments

Undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy may cause you to develop alopecia. After your treatment ends, your hair typically begins to regrow.

Illness

Recent high fever, severe flu or surgery. You may notice you have less hair three to four months after events such as an illness or surgery. These conditions cause hair to shift rapidly into a resting phase (telogen effluvium), meaning you'll see less new hair growth. A normal amount of hair typically will appear after the growth phase resumes.

Infancy

Newborns often lose hair during the first several months of life. This baby hair (vellus) is eventually replaced by more permanent hair. It's also common for babies to lose a patch of hair on the back of their heads from rubbing against mattresses, playpens and car seats. Hair will grow back once a baby begins to spend more time sitting up.

Childbirth ( The dreaded postpartum shedding)

Some women experience an increase in hair loss several months after delivering a baby. This is because during pregnancy the hair is shifted into an active growth state that then goes back to baseline soon after delivery. This increased hair loss usually corrects itself.

Hair Treatments

Chemicals used for dying, tinting, bleaching, straightening or perming can cause hair to become damaged and break off if they are overused or used incorrectly. Excessive hairstyling or hairstyles that pull your hair too tightly also can cause some hair loss. This is known as traction alopecia.

Scalp Infections

Infections such as ringworm can invade the hair and skin of your scalp, leading to hair loss. Once infections are treated, hair generally regrows. Ringworm, a fungal infection, can usually be treated with a topical or oral anti fungal medication.

Tips

While going through a shedding period, try not to manipulate your hair much. Don't wash your hair more than once a week. It seems to aggravate the shedding. Try to wear your hair up to prevent hair from falling into food and everything else. You'd find hair in the strangest places. Try not to shampoo your scalp too often. I found that when using shampoos especially those containing SLS (sodium laureth sulfate) my shedding intensified. Make a trip to your Doctor. Sudden excessive shedding could be something more serious than just seasonal.