The word balding does not get used as much today but hair loss is primarily a genetic trait which members of the same family suffer although there are other factors involved, it may take quite a while for science to find a genetic cure to the problem. Generally male or female pattern baldness or hair loss is inherited although only gene therapy can help with it but this is not the only reason for balding. Hair follicles on certain areas of the man’s head are more likely to be affected by increased male sex hormone as they get older and the hair follicles in these areas suffer from what could be considered an overdose of hormones.

So the hair loss really occurs when male and female hormones are not in the correct proportions. While this much is known, where hair loss is a genetic trait there isn’t as yet a way to cure it.

Male and female-pattern baldness is the most common form of hair loss and is caused by a hormone called DHT, a naturally occurring hormone that helps in sexual development but treatments are available. To control this problem there are shampoos like Rogaine and tablets that control the level of DHT in the hair follicles like Propecia. Transplant surgery can be effective as the hair follicles used are those from areas of the scalp that do not have the same sensitivity to DHT as the areas where baldness has occurred.

At any point in a person’s life about 10 percent of the hair on their head is resting (not growing) and after a few months, the resting hair falls out and new hair begins to grow in its place; this growing phase can last anywhere from 2 to 6 years. It must be noted that hair loss is quite normal and hair can grow over 1 centimeter each month during the growing phase but there are people that, owing to other reasons, will lose more than this per month.

Some of the false reasons for hair loss are bad circulation, excess sweating, wearing hate that are too tight and even stress. With the exception of stress, none of these factors has been proven as a definitive cause of hair loss but stress is also not very likely unless you have undergone extreme physical or psychological torture but fortunately this hair loss is can also be temporary in nature.

Certain other situations can also cause hair loss like medical treatment using chemotherapy, scalp infections, depression pills and hormone tablets and even diabetics can suffer with the problem. A permanent solution to hair loss might take sometime and while many people wait anxiously for it, they will have to use what science has devised so far.