Hair loss (alopecia or baldness)

The document from June 30, 2018, by Loai Radwan Rashid, discussed the nature of hair growth and hair loss. The human scalp has approximately 100,000 hair follicles, with hair growing at a rate of 1.25 cm per month, slowing down with age. Baldness becomes noticeable when about 50% of hair is lost. The most common form of hair loss in men, accounting for over 95% of all baldness cases, is hereditary hair loss (androgenetic alopecia). Hair loss, or alopecia, is when follicles stop producing hair, which can be particularly distressing when it affects the scalp. Male pattern baldness is often caused by genetics and associated with male sex hormones called androgens, which regulate hair growth. Over time, the hair growth cycle weakens, the follicle shrinks, and hair becomes shorter and finer until no new hair grows. While usually not medically harmful, baldness can sometimes indicate serious conditions like certain cancers, thyroid conditions, or be a side effect of medications and anabolic steroids.