Loss of hair is always an alarming thing to see – especially if the lost hair is from your own head. A few strands of dead hair will always come out with normal brushing, combing or having someone run their fingers through your hair. But if your hair balls are bigger and more profuse than the cat's hairballs, then this should be a time to make an appointment with your doctor.

DO NOT IGNORE WHEN YOU’RE LOSING HAIR
There are many reasons for losing hair, and not just because of genetics or age. Hair loss happens to all races, genders and ages. It is thought that 60% of all people who go bald is not due to genetics causing male pattern baldness. Why is this? Your body could be fighting an illness and will shut down hair growth until the fight is over. Usually, the earlier you can get your illness diagnosed, the earlier it can be treated and then a few weeks later, you hair should start growing again.

If you have just started a new medication and are loosing your hair, call your doctor. Prescription medications like Nexium have been proven to sometimes give people hair loss as a side effect. Please do not ignore hair loss. And, please do not use this article in the place of your doctor's advice.

IF YOU'VE HAD A BAD SCARE WITH LOSING HAIR
Some people put off going to the doctor about losing hair because they think it's just due to stress. Although stress can aggravate thinning hair and your hair texture, it isn't the main reasons for hair loss. If you are very stressed and not eating properly, then your body isn’t getting the nutrition it needs to grow and maintain hair. Also, despite popular belief, your hair can’t turn white just from a bad scare.

TESTS TO TAKE TO DETERMINE ROOT OF HAIR LOSS
You will most likely have to take several outpatient diagnostic tests to determine just why you are experiencing loss of hair. These include blood tests, skin scrapings, pulling off a few strands of your hair for analysis, or analyzing a small chunk of your skin in a procedure called a punch biopsy.

You will also be asked about your current health, your health history and the health history of your immediate family. This is to see is you are prone to any illnesses that may cause problems with hair growth, such as diabetes, lupus or problems with your thyroid. If the diagnostic tests like skin scrapings and punch biopsies don’t give a clue as to what's going on in your body, then you will most likely be tested for specific illnesses.

MEDICATIONS FOR INCREASING HAIR GROWTH
It could be that you have male pattern baldness. Some people seem to go bald or get thinning hair all at once, while for others it's a gradual process. If you do have male pattern baldness, then over the counter remedies like Minoxidil can certainly help recondition your scalp and get it to tell your hair to start growing again.