Is your hair is coming out every time you brush it, and when you wake in the morning you do you see it on your pillow? You are right to be concerned. It is important to check with your doctor who will determine what is causing your problem.

Alopecia is the medical name for hair loss. Hair loss can be caused by medications that you are taking, a variety of medical conditions, and natural reasons.

The most commonly recognized hair loss is known as male- pattern baldness, which 85% of men experience by the time they are 50, and its companion female pattern baldness.

Male baldness is the result of male sex hormones, and has the pattern of a receding hairline and overall thinning on the crown of the head. Female pattern baldness also appears as thinning of hair starting on the top area of the head.

One of the things that the physician will do is take a family history, because there can be a hereditary factor involved. The doctor will also use a magnifying glass to see if the hair follicles vary in size.

If there is a family history of female baldness, and follicle examination shows variation, then the patient has androgenetic alopecia. According to WebMD, The American Academy of Dermatology documents that at least 30 million women have female baldness.

This is the most common type of hair loss that doctors see, with at least 50% of woman in their later years experiencing this condition, but it sometimes occurs in the teenage years.

There are multiple medical conditions that are associated with hair loss. Those who are pregnant, or have a thyroid disorder or have anemia may have hair loss.

But it is also associated with polycystic ovary disease, skin problems such as seborrheic dramatis and psoriasis and auto immune disorders. Those who have gone through trauma both emotional and physical, extreme weight loss and serious surgery can also notice hair loss.

When hair loss happens to children, doctors are concerned that they have an autoimmune related condition called Alopecia Areata. This condition starts one or more small smooth round spots on the scalp and can cause total baldness and hair loss on other parts of the body.

There are over 6 million people in the United States and 147 million in the world who will get alopecia some time in their lives.

Treatment of alopecia involves several drug options and which have a mixed effect. Often hair regrowth occurs even without treatment over a period of time. Cosmetic treatments are also available including wigs and hair pieces as this condition is very emotionally and psychologically stressful.

Make sure to see your doctor to find out the cause of your hair loss. If you are diagnosed with this condition it would be very helpful to check out the website of the National Alopecia Areata Foundation which offers educational and support information.