Loss of hair or alopecia aerate is a common condition which may occur at any age in either sex.

The cause is thought to be an autoimmune phenomenon as often, there is a co-existing autoimmune disease e.g. thyroid disorders, veiling, diabetes.

Then there is traction alopecia: this is a localized, non-scarring alopecia caused by constant traction on the hair. The hair margins are particularly affected. Common causes include tight hairstyles e.g. pony-tails, tight plaiting: hair setting equipment e.g. rollers.

Female Pattern Baldness (FPB)
Female pattern baldness usually begins about age 30, becomes noticeable around age 40, and may be even more noticeable after menopause.

Female hair loss is usually an overall thinning - two hairs where five used to be - rather than a bald area on top of the head, though women may have receding hairline, too. As in males, hair follicles simply shut down, with hormones playing some role in the process.

A receding hairline reflects age, but not necessarily since some men start balding quite young. With the spurt in androgen secretion at puberty, the hairline moves back a little in 96 percent of boys and 80 percent of girls.

Most boys continue to shed hair as they mature and, if baldness runs in the family, lose increasing amounts. The loss may begin at age 20, then stop, only to start up again few years later.

Since thins type of baldness is largely hereditary. A man can usually , although not always, predict the extent of his future baldness by examining family portraitist About 50 per cent of children with a balding parent of either sex will inherit the dominant baldness.

Sign And Symptoms

• General thinning of hair all over the head.
• Moderate loss of hair on the crown or at hair line.