Jeanie Dassow, M.D.Q: What causes hair loss, and how can I prevent it?
A: Hair loss can occur for a variety of reasons. The first step to treating the issue is uncovering the cause.
Here are some common causes for hair loss:
* Stress. Typically, hair loss as a side effect of stress is due to physical stress rather than emotional stress. For example, if you undergo a surgical procedure or have a car accident, the trauma to your body may trigger hair loss.
* Heredity. This is the most common cause of hair loss and is passed down through generations. This type of hair loss occurs gradually as you age, usually resulting in a receding hairline in men and thinning hair for women.