Hair loss is something that can affect everybody, regardless of gender or age. It's a problem that has been around for centuries, but with the sudden interest in everybody's image, increasing numbers of people are opting for hair transplant surgery in order to maintain their youthful looks. But what are the causes of hair loss? In particular, when there are cases where there seems to be no genetic explanation for the hair loss.

There are a variety of supposed causes of hair loss; things such as hormonal changes can bring it on. An imbalance in the thyroid gland that causes it to produce too much or too little of the thyroid hormone, then it's possible that generalised thinning of the hair or overall hair loss can occur. Thyroid problems can be diagnosed with a simple blood test and the medication you'll be prescribed if this is the problem can stop the problem.

A variety of inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis can lead to patches of hair falling out leaving red, flaky skin underneath. Patches of hair loss without the irritated skin underneath can be the result of alopecia areata.

It is believed that wearing tight headbands or having your hair in cornrows can lead to a faster rate of hair thinning. This is due to the fact that the hairs get broken at the base and so fall out. While this is not a reason for complete baldness, it can explain why some people experience accelerated hair thinning.

Hair loss can also be the result of a psychological disorder known as trichotillomania; this is when people compulsively play with their hair without realising. Severe cases can cause people to pull their hair out and eat the roots. The hair rarely grows back following these extreme cases as the follicle can become scarred from the excessive damage. Other psychological factors can contribute to hair loss such as stress, anxiety and depression. Many people do not have stress and anxiety diagnosed as the reason for hair loss because they tend to play down their levels of stress to other people; but they do not realise that this can lead to a cycle of anxiety and stress as the more hair loss experienced, the more anxious and stressed the person is likely to become.

Doctors may provide a variety of medications to treat hair loss, but these do not work for everybody and may not be a permanent fix. In these cases, there is the option of hair transplant surgery. This is a minimally invasive procedure that leaves little to no scarring and provides natural looking results. With cosmetic surgery procedures becoming more and more common, there is now no need for men or women to feel ashamed that they've gone under the knife to boost their self confidence.