Last updated: 11/24/2009

The most common type of hair loss occurs in a predictable pattern and this pattern of hair loss occurs when the normal cycle of hair growth changes. Usually pattern hair loss starts slowly, and continues to get progressively worse. Progressive pattern...

hair loss is a common occurrence among men, and less apparent but still quite common among women. While men typically suffer male pattern baldness with receding hairlines and bald spots on the crown of the head, women typically experience generalized thinning hair over the entire top of the head. And as we age, the occurrence and degree of hair loss increases.

While the entire genetic mechanism that causes hair loss is not completely understood, we do know that in individuals with pattern hair loss, certain hair follicles are genetically programmed to be more sensitive to a hormone circulating in the blood called dihydrotestosterone, commonly abbreviated as DHT. The cause of pattern hair loss in both men and women is linked to DHT in the blood which signals certain hair follicles to stop growing new hairs.

Hair loss caused by disease, medication, or stress should be treated by a board certified dermatologist. A dermatologist is a medical doctor trained specifically to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the hair, skin, and nails. If you suspect that your hair loss is due to something other than genetics (pattern baldness), schedule an examination with a dermatologist.