Hair loss is the fall of more hair than normal as a result of weakened or damaged hair follicles. It is known that a healthy person sheds an average of 50 to 100 strands of hair daily. However, if this amount increases and new hair does not grow in its place, the problem of hair falling arises.

Hair loss, male pattern hair loss, genetic hair fall, and androgenetic alopecia (hereditary male pattern hair fall) are terms used to describe the same thing. Men generally lose hair from the front and top of the head. However, in certain cases, it remains on the back and sides. For women, hair weakness is usually hereditary and the hair falls out in a scattered pattern.

Miniaturization is only seen in genetically caused hair fall. Hereditary male pattern hair fall helps to diagnose hair fall in the family and other relatives. There may not always be a history of hair fall in other family members. Hereditary hair fall in women does not have a special diagnostic appearance.

Various underlying medical diseases in women can cause a pattern of hair weakness similar to hereditary hair fall out. Women may have hair falling due to many non-hereditary reasons such as pregnancy, gynecological problems, birth control pills, and thyroid disease.