With our unhealthy life style and smog infested atmosphere, hair loss has become quit a common problem affecting almost 40 percent of men and 25 percent of women. Illness is one of the biggest causes of hair loss that cannot really be prevented. However other types of hair loss can not only be prevented if the proper measures are taken but it can also be reversed.

Do you think there's a little more hair in your brush, and a little less hair on your head lately? Feel like you shed more than your cat? Don't panic-some degree of hair loss is perfectly normal, many kinds of hair loss are only temporary, and even some kinds of hair loss that were traditionally thought of as permanent can now be reversed. So don't tear your hair out. Get informed, and understand the reasons for your hair loss, so you can work toward a solution to restore lost hair.

Many temporary kinds of hair loss result from shock from surgery or major illness and fluxuating hormone levels. If you have recovered from a major surgery or illness in the last three or so months, and are now experiencing hair loss, it is a simple and temporary stress reaction to the body's trauma. If you recently had a baby or have a known thyroid condition, you may also experience hair loss due to hormone fluxuation. When your hormones reestablish normal levels,either through the normal course of events or through treatment of your imbalance, your hair will return to normal.

Simple lifestyle habits can also cause hair loss. Tight hair styles, such as cornrows, tight ponytails or pigtails can cause some hair to fall out. Brushing your hair excessively, and especially while wet, can also cause some hair loss. In almost all cases, if you simply cease these damaging routines, your hair will grow back over time. Diet can also play a role. If you aren't eating a healthy, protein-rich diet, or aren't eating enough, you may lose hair as a result. Again, simply changing these habits can usually reverse the affects.

However, some hair loss is hereditary. Luckily, if you've only begun to suspect that you might be losing your hair, chances are you can either restore it, or prevent more loss by repairing your hair. In general, it's much easier to prevent hair loss than to re-grow lost hair, so it's important to catch your hair loss early, and prevent it from advancing. But that doesn't mean re-growth isn't possible.

Products developed in recent years have shown great trial success in both stopping hair loss and reversing some loss. Finasteride and minoxidil are both FDA approved hair-loss treatments available in the United States with excellent track records. If you think it's time to halt the process of your hair loss, talk to your doctor about your options to determine what kind of treatment is best for you.

Before you begin to use any of these anti hair loss drugs be sure to consult a doctor. These drugs have been known to cause side affects in some patients, plus allergies and other individual factors need to be taken into consideration before you start using these drugs. As with any problem it is better to identify and eliminate the cause of the problem before it becomes too late. Hair loss is preventable and all necessary steps should be taken to prevent it.