It is normal to find a few hairs on the comb or brush after combing or brushing my hair. But if I see more and more hair everyday then there is a need to be concerned. It's even worse when I see that there are patches of my hair missing! The first thing most of us would say (including myself) is, "am I that old?" Before marching off to the doctor, I decided to find out what could be the problem. I didn't want to have to be shocked by his verdict.

Loss of hair in patches is a condition that is medically termed alopecia areata. Aging is not the cause of the condition as people at any age can be affected by it. It may be temporary and hair grows back again or continuous and hair growth has to be stimulated. Alopecia areata is associated with other diseases or conditions like allergies, chromosome defect diseases and autoimmune diseases. There are different types of alopecia areata. There may be only one patch and this is termed monolocularis or many patches and that is termed multilocularis. Hair can be lost from the back and temples of the hair in a band, or from the top of the head in a big patch. Hair loss may respond also to the different stages of a disease.

Fortunately, there are solutions that are available to not only stop hair from falling out, but also for hair to start growing normally again. These can be in the form of injections, topical creams or pills. Most of the medications available tend to inhibit the actions of certain components that promote hair loss in the body. There is a boost of the components that are essential for hair to grow. Minoxidil, Dutasteride and Cyclosporine are a few examples of treatments proven to work.

The foods we eat as well as exercise contribute to boosting hair growth. A proper balanced diet is important for the body to receive all the nutrients. Nutrients are needed for the production of new cells, maintenance of existing ones, as well as energy for chemical processes. Exercise increases the flow of blood and increases oxygen levels in the body. Oxygen is a vital part of our lives. Blood also carries nutrients, hence the more blood flowing to the scalp, the more nutrients available for hair growth.

Loss of hair is not physically painful, but affects one emotionally and mentally. Self image is important to everyone and confidence in your appearance can be seriously lowered. There is no need to suffer alone. Loss of hair affects a large percentage of the world's population. There are groups or forums that one can join or newsletters to subscribe to. These will give you the much needed support as well as invaluable information on solutions that you can pursue. Although patches of my hair are missing, confidence in myself is not. I now know where to get help and the best people to give it to me.