As opposed to the term balding, the correct term for total or partial hair loss is alopecia. Before treating hair loss, it is extremely important to do as much research as possible and gather the facts about hair loss. There are many alternatives these days for treating hair loss, but only some of them may be right for you. The more you know about the causes of your hair loss, the better equipped you are to choose a cure.

In order to best understand and treat your hair loss situation, you first need to determine what type of hair loss you are dealing with. This will help you begin to sift through the vast amount of information available. Hair loss can be a gradual development, or occur in patches and even be something that affects the hair all over your body. Some hair loss is natural, with the average person loosing approximately one hundred hairs every day. Considering that the average human scalp contain around one hundred thousand hairs on any given day the loss of one hundred a day is not overly significant. The life span of the average hair is approximately four and half years during which time it will grow about one half inch every six months. After about five years the hair will fall out and be replaces with a new hair in another six months. Genetic hair loss occurs when the body does not produce new hairs to replace those shed along with excessive hair loss.

Both men and women tend to lose hair at about the same rate as they get older. Both sexes are likely to suffer thinning hair at about the same rate as well. Men are more likely to inherit pattern baldness, which usually results in a receding hair line and thinning hair near the top of the head. Male pattern baldness is the result of the hormone testosterone, which means that men who have low levels of testosterone for whatever reason won't develop male pattern baldness. About 25% of all men have started to lose hair by the age of 30, and over 66% are either balding or completely bald by the age of 60.

Many etiologies of hair loss exist. Thus, it is of paramount importance to evaluate all available information on possible causes of hair loss instead of assuming that one's hair loss is hereditary. While baldness is usually the consequence of aging, inheritance or testosterone, myriad other factors exist that should not be ignored. These include hormonal variations, severe illness, medications, too much shampooing or blow drying, stress-whether psychological or physical, nervous habits, burns and even parasites such as ringworm.