It is normal to lose some hair every day. A hair loss of 80 to 120 hairs a day is considered to be within the normal range. Accelerated loss cycles can be caused by pregnancy, illness, surgery, stress, dieting, etc. This type of hair loss will usually self-resolve over time.
Other causes of hair loss are multiple and varied. They can include genetic hair loss (male or female pattern hair loss), fungal infection or other disease process of the skin, medical conditions such as thyroid disease or anemia, or manipulation of the hair (rubbing, pulling, picking). Sometimes a biopsy of the scalp is necessary to identify the cause of hair loss.
Since all types of hair loss are dealt with differently, Dr. Daoud recommends a consultation to determine the cause of your abnormal hair loss and the best course of treatment.