The normal period of hair growth cycle lasts 2 or 3 years. During this phase each hair strand grows approximately 1 cm per month. At any one time 90 percent of the hair is in growing phase while the rest 10 percent will be in resting phase. The resting hair sheds off after 3 or 4 months and new hair grows in its place.
As part of this cycle, it is normal to shed some hair every day. But some people have a tendency to lose a large quantity of hair. This type of excessive hair loss can affect men, women and children.
Hair loss may occur due to various reasons. A person recovering from illness or a surgery may experience excessive hair loss. This type of hair loss occurs due to the stress caused by illness and can also be due to the side effect of drugs prescribed during the period. It is a temporary form of hair loss and after a short period it comes back to normal.
Hormonal imbalance can also lead to excessive hair loss. Your hair may fall out, if your thyroid gland is underactive or overactive. Treatment of thyroid disease is the solution for this type of hair loss. The imbalance of male and female hormones, called androgens and estrogens, can also lead to hair fall. This can be controlled by correcting the hormone imbalance.
Women after their delivery experience to lose hair a lot about 3 months. Throughout pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to remain hair that would normally fall out. When the hormones go back to pre-pregnancy levels, that hair falls out and there occurs the normal cycle of hair growth and loss starts again.
Usage of certain drugs and medicines can also lead to hair loss. Strong medicines prescribed for blood pressure and antidepressants are some examples of medicines that can cause hair loss.
Fungal infections affecting the scalp or our head can lead to hair loss. Anti fungal treatment can be done to get rid off this.