Q: I am a 23 years old woman. I am suffering from acute hair loss. My hair is not damaged or broken, but my roots have become very weak. I have tried all sorts of oils and shampoos, but the problem still persists, in fact it worsens if I use oil. My scalp is sensitive to touch. When I run the comb through my hair, the sensation is not pleasant. I get pain if someone touches my head.

A:The most common type of hair loss seen in women is androgenic alopecia or female pattern baldness. It affects approximately one-third of all susceptible women, but is most commonly seen after menopause, although it may begin as early as puberty. Normal hair fall is approximately 100-125 hairs per day. Fortunately, these hairs are replaced. True hair loss occurs when lost hair is not regrown or when the daily hair shedding exceeds 125 hairs. Genetically, hair loss can come from either parent's side of the family. There are two different types of hair loss, medically known as anagen effluvium and telogen effluvium. Anagen effluvium is generally due to internally administered medications, such as chemotherapy agents, that poison the growing hair follicle. Telogen effluvium is due to an increased number of hair follicles entering the resting stage. The most common causes of telogen effluvium are: