This condition can surface in early teens, twenties, or thirties. Androgenetic alopecia in other name can be called hereditary balding. Genes and hormones are solely responsible for this type of most common form of hair loss. This tendency can be inherited either from father's side or from mother's side. Women with this trait develop thinning hair but not complete bald. There is hardly any cure for this ailment. Medical treatments have recently become available that may help some people.

Androgenetic alopecia is hormone related. Androgens are any of the many hormones that shape and control a human chrematistic. A human body is programmed to produce an enzyme know as 5-alpha reductase. When the Androgen hormone in the scalp produces testosterone which mixes with 5-alpha reductase, it produces Dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. DHT is not well received by hair follicles, cutting off blood supply which is critical to growth of new hair. Thinning and or balding process begins when this occurs.

Another way in which hair loss (alopecia) can be classified is according to factors leading to it. There are two different types of hair loss, known medically as:

• Anagen effluvium which is caused due to medications taken internally, such as chemotherapy representatives, excessive doses of vitamin A or hypertension medications that destroy the growing hair follicle.
  
• Telogen effluvium this is caused due to an increased number of hair follicles entering the latent or rather dead stage. The most common causes of Telogen effluvium leading to alopecia could be:
  - Physical stress: medical surgery, serious illness, rapid weight change etc.
  - Emotional stress: death in family, mental disorder.
  - Thyroid irregularity.
  - Hormonal causes: pregnancy, birth control pills, menopause.

Reversal or alteration of above causes of Telogen effluvium generally causes the return of normal hair growth.