Hair fall or shedding of between 50-125 hairs each day is considered normal as long as the growing process continues and the hairs are being replaced. If these hair strands are not replaced, people experience hair loss. If people diet or have extremely abnormal eating habits, they may not get enough protein during meals. Because of this, the body needs to save the protein currently available in its system. Since hair consists mostly of protein, that means the body must move more hair into the resting phase in order to maintain an adequate level of protein.
Prescription drugs can cause temporary hair loss for a small number of individuals.
Some conditions where medications have initiated loss include arthritis, depression and blood thinners. Women taking birth control pills may also notice a change. Cancer treatments also cause the hair to become thin and patients begin to experience hair loss between one to three weeks after treatment has begun. One form of alopecia accounts for the most common cause of hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia means the thinning of the hair due to certain characteristics inherited from either side of the family.