No one likes to lose their hair, even to a small extent, and as a result, this problem causes patient to consult their doctor sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, there may not be a great deal that a doctor can do, and some people then spend large amounts of money on a wide variety of unproved treatments, that invariably give no benefit or cure.

Hair loss occurs in two forms: a diffuse loss of hair that causes thinning of those previously thick locks, and total loss of hair on part of the head.

Hair thinning can be a normal part of aging, rapid weight loss or the mono pause, but also occurs with stress and anxiety, and a number of diseases including an under-active or over-active thyroid gland, diabetes, as a side effect of some medications, and because of a lack of iron or zinc in the diet.

Total hair loss in an area can be due to baldness or a disease called alopecia.

By far the most common form of baldness is that caused by hereditary tendencies in men. If your father or grandfather was bald, you have a good chance of developing the same problem. Baldness is a sex linked genetic condition. It is very rare in women, but passes through the female line to men in later generations.

Despite the lurid claims of magazine advertisements, there are only three ways to deal with being bald: accept the condition; wear a hair piece; or have a hair transplant performed by a plastic surgeon.

There are no cures available, and none are lively for some time to come.

A sudden loss of hair in a well defined patch on the scalp, or other areas,of body hair (e.g. pubic area, beard, chest, eyebrows) is commonly caused by alopecia (meaning hair loss) areata (meaning a specific area). It is different to baldness in that it can occur at any age, in either sex, and in any race.

It starts suddenly, and a bare patch 2cm or more across may be present before it is noticed. It is more common in under 25 year-olds, and is quite common with about two percent of all patients seeing skin specialists having the condition.

The hairless area may slowly extend for several weeks, before stabilizing. Several spots may occur simultaneously, and may merge together as they enlarge. If the entire scalp is affected, the disease is called alopecia totalis, but this is not a different disease, just a severe case of alopecia areata.

There is a family history of the disease in up to 20 percent of patients, but in the majority, no specific cause for the disease can found. Stress and anxiety are not considered to be a common cause of alopecia areata, but they may cause diffuse hair loss.

Fungal infections and drugs used to treat cancer may also cause patchy hair loss and these causes must be excluded by doctor.

Treatment will involve using strong steroid creams, injections of steroids into the affected area, and irritant lotions. There are many other treatments under going trial, with varying results. In most patients, regrowth of hair eventually recurs, although the new hair may be totally white. Sometimes the regrowth may take many months. The further the bare patch is from the top of the scalp, the slower and less likely regrowth of the hair be comes. It is rare for recovery from total hair loss to occur.

It is important for anyone with rapidly thinning hair, or patchy hair loss, that is not obviously due to an hereditary tendency, to see a doctor for thorough investigation and treatment as soon as possible.