WHAT IS HAIR LOSS? The word "alopecia" is the medical term for hair loss and it can take a range of different forms. Most hair loss is perfectly normal. However, there is a fine line between regular and excessive loss of hair and making the right choices early on can help curb your hair loss experience before it becomes more serious. While bald areas are an obvious sign of hair loss, it can be difficult to tell whether your hair is getting thinner. To find out try the tug test: hold about 15 or 20 hairs between the thumb and index finger and pull slowly and firmly. If more than six hairs come out there may be a problem.   Another easy technique to determine if you might be experiencing excessive hair loss is via a simple observation when you shower. The normal, regular rate of hair loss is around 50-150 hairs daily. So if you start to notice the rate increase, it's time to take action. CAUSES OF HAIR LOSS There are many reasons for hair loss which encompass a whole range of medical, emotional and lifestyle conditions. For example, stress, hormonal changes and poor diet can prevent the body from effectively absorbing the essential nutrients it needs to support healthy hair. The most common causes of hair loss include: Age Diet & lifestyle Auto-immune disease Thyroid dysfunction   Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Hereditary Illness & Stress Post birth   Menopause Medication Over styling Since early detection is key to stopping male and female pattern hair loss in its tracks, doctors are often the first line of defense for many men and women. NorthShore Medical & Aesthetics Center (NMAC) is proud to be the first medical practice in Bermuda to complete a national training program for early hair loss detection and preventative treatment counseling.   The Bauman Certified HairCoachMD program is an intensive hands-on training class that teaches medical professionals how to identify the early signs of hair loss, answer key questions about hair loss and conduct highly accurate hair loss evaluations with the HairCheck trichometer. It is often these first informal questions that lead to the discovery of progressive hair loss while it is still in the early phases, when it can be still be treated, and oftentimes, prevented, delayed and in some cases, even reversed.