Hair loss can occur after pregnancy, major stress trauma or illnesses. There are some medicines as well which can cause hair loss. You can prevent this if you stop taking those medicines, but after consulting a doctor. Medicines that can cause this include blood thinners, also called anticoagulants, medicines for gout problems, medicines used in chemotherapy for cancer, excessive intake of vitamin A, birth control pills & even certain antidepressants. Certain infections like fungal infections of the scalp can also cause hair loss. These are easily treated with some antifungal medicines. Lastly, hair loss may also occur as part of a disease that you may be suffering, such as diabetes. It is important to find the cause so that it can be treated since hair loss is usually an early sign of a disease. Depending on your type of hair loss, treatments are available. If a medicine is causing your hair loss, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine. Recognizing and treating an infection may help stop the hair loss. Correcting a hormone imbalance may prevent further hair loss.

Medicines may also help slow or prevent the development of common baldness. One medicine, minoxidil (brand name: Rogaine), is available without a prescription. It is applied to the scalp. Both men and women can use it. Another medicine, finasteride (brand name: Propecia) is available with a prescription. It comes in pills and is only for men. It may take up to 6 months before you can tell if one of these medicines is working.

If adequate treatment is not available for your type of hair loss, you may consider trying different hairstyles or wigs, hairpieces, hair weaves or artificial hair replacement.

Male pattern baldness (i.e. receding hairline and a bald patch developing), in men, is linked to me male hormones, androgens. In women, it is unclear whether hormones do play a part. It is often an inherited tendency, especially in women. The most practical solution to in male pattern hair loss is to take the oral contraceptive pill, Dianette, which blocks the male hormones (androgens) and so can help prevent further hair loss. If you cannot take the pill for some reason (e.g. because you have had a thrombosis) or you prefer not to, you could try minoxidil (Regaine) lotion, available over the counter. You have to keep using it or any hair regrowth tends to fall out again, which can prove very expensive. If you are approaching the menopause then you may want to consider HRT which may halt the process and restore some hair thickness. A blood test will not tell you much but can let you know whether you are approaching the menopause despite regular periods. If no particular cause is found, advice from a skilled hairdresser is best. There are many commercial sources of help with hair loss problems but you need to be a little sceptical and careful before spending lots of money on untested or unproven wonder cures.