Why it happens; what can be done about it. Daily shedding of some hair is normal. When the loss is so great that thinning or balding becomes evident, you may want to consult a dermatologist. Temporary hair loss has many possible causes: high fever, illness, drug or radiation therapy, nutritional deficiency, hormonal imbalance, an emotional shock, or too-strenuous styling or processing with chemicals.
Most permanent baldness is hereditary and mainly affects men. No treatment has yet been proven to significantly revive hair growth without complicated side effects, but there are corrective options: a toupee or wig; hair weaving, in which false hair (on a net) is set against the scalp, then woven tightly in with the natural hair; and transplanting healthy hair-growing skin to bald areas. Weaving has to be redone every 4 to 8 weeks and can lead to scalp irritation. Transplanting has satisfied many men, but there can be surgical complications and the final appearance is not entirely natural.