Cancer and other tumours - chemotherapy procedures and drugs are often used to treat and slow down the growth of malignant cells. This means that cells with active division speed and cell division itself will be a subject to this procedure. The chemotherapy treatment affects all cells, including malignant. No matter whether chemotherapy slows or stops the growth of malignant cells, it as much slows or stops the cell division of hair follicles. As a result a stronger hair loss develops in a short period of time, as the hair follicle formation stops and suspends an active growth of hair. People undergoing procedures of intensive chemotherapy might loose in short time all hair. Upon completion of these procedures hair follicles reorganize, restart their operations and begin producing hair again. The new hair may appear already 4 weeks after the last procedure of chemotherapy, although for the hair on the scalp to grow back may take several months and more.

Certain drugs - Anagen Effluvium can develop when using certain prescription drugs. The mechanisms by which these drugs promote hair loss has usually involve inhibition of cell proliferation in some way. Drug induced Anagen Effluvium looks similar to Telogen Effluvium although it develops much more rapidly. here are varying degrees of drug induced anagen effluvium insult. Limited drug ingestion may just slow the rate of cell division in a hair follicle making the hair fibres thin and easily breakable. Depending on the duration of drug use and the potency of the treatment some individuals may develop near universal hair loss. Although the scalp is the primary site affected, hair loss of the eyebrows, axillaries and pubic region can also develop. Hair is very rapidly growing with a high level of cell division. In Anagen Effluvium the metabolic process is brought to a sudden stop making a sharp break in the production of the hair shaft. The hair fibre is then shed but, unlike Telogen Effluvium, the hair follicle does not enter a resting Telogen state. Consequently, when conditions become more favourable, the onset of hair regrowth is equally as sudden as the initial loss. Hair follicles are not normally destroyed and will regrow hair if more favourable conditions return.

Hormones - abnormal over or under production of hormones can have a profound effect on hair follicle activity and the quality of hair produced. Even a temporary imbalance of hormone levels in the body can lead to Anagen or Telogen Effluvium type hair loss. Hair growth is usually restored once the hormone levels have been returned to normal levels. Hair follicles are particularly sensitive to concentrations of thyroid gland derived hormones. Thyroid hormones have a global influence on the cellular metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and minerals. The cells of the hair matrix, due to their high degree of metabolic activity, are most profoundly influenced by the deficiency or excess of thyroid derived hormones.

Excess of vitamins - vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is easily destroyed upon exposure to heat, light, or air. It is essential for the proper functioning of most body organs and also affects the immune system. However excessive intake of vitamin A causes a toxic condition. Symptoms can include nausea, coarsening and loss of hair, dry and scaly skin, bone pain, fatigue, and drowsiness. An associated hair loss can become quite severe affecting the entire scalp and body. There are several drug treatments available that are vitamin A derivatives and have been associated with hair loss in some people. Vitamin A and derivative drugs inhibit cell division and slow down keratinisation. This is beneficial when treating conditions such as acne where skin cells are over active and hyper keratinized. However, too much vitamin A or over use of vitamin A related drugs can cause a slow down in hair follicle activity. Also extreme vitamin A deficiency results in various disorders that involve prolonged hair loss as well.

Excess of metals - too much copper can be toxic and may cause a form of Anagen Effluvium. It has been suggested that an excess of copper ingestion might occur from drinking acidic tap water drawn from copper pipes. Alternatively, when electrical earth wires have been connected to copper water pipes and defective electrical appliances are causing a prolonged electrical current flow through the pipes, the metal may be ionized and dissolved in the drinking water.

Short Anagen syndrome - as the name suggests, short Anagen syndrome is a condition where the Anagen growth phase of hair follicles is shorter than normal. This condition can produce two clinical results one or both of which may be present in the same individual. Short Anagen syndrome may mean that more hair follicles are in a Telogen resting state. Because more hair follicles are in Telogen there is an increased rate of hair shedding. The hair either falls out or is pulled out during general washing, combing, and other general hair care. Alternatively, there is may be little or no increase in the number of hair follicles in Telogen, but due to the brief Anagen growth phase the hair fibre that is produced is very short. The typical Anagen growth duration of a scalp hair follicle is between six and ten years. Because the time period for growth is so long we can grow long scalp hair - or have to get it cut regularly. A reduced Anagen growth time period over which the hair follicles are actually growing hair means that hair cannot grow long. People with short Anagen syndrome find that they almost never have to have their hair cut. The hair grows to a short length and then falls out. People with short Anagen syndrome are lucky if their scalp hair reaches collar length. Short Anagen syndrome may be one mechanism behind the condition "chronic Telogen Effluvium" and it may also be associated with "loose anagen syndrome".

Loose Anagen syndrome - loose hair syndrome (loose Anagen syndrome, loose Anagen hair) is a non-inflammatory, non-scarring form of hair loss. It is a condition that seems to most likely affect children. Loose Anagen syndrome is a form of hair loss that is often patchy in appearance but can sometimes have a diffuse presentation. When the hair loss becomes extensive it most often affects the back of the scalp leaving the front portion much less affected. As the name suggests, the hair is loose and is easily pulled out of the hair follicle. This helps explain why the back of the head is most affected. The repeated rubbing of the back of a persons head on a pillow at night pulls out more of the hair, whereas the front of the scalp has less contact with the pillow and so the hair is more likely to remain in place. The remaining hair does not grow very long and it can be unruly and difficult to comb and style. Hair fibres under a microscope are often irregularly shaped with longitudinal grooves and ruffling of the cuticle near the base of the hair shaft. The ruffled cuticle is due to the extraction process as the hair fibre is removed from the hair follicle. The hair fibre structure itself is strong. Sometimes the fibres have a spangled look to them under bright light and very occasionally the fibre has a tacky feel to it when touched. The hair follicles affected by loose Anagen syndrome are still in the active growth phase, but the root sheaths that normally surround and protect the hair shaft are not produced properly. In loose Anagen syndrome the hair fibre is poorly anchored in the hair follicle. This is due to a lack of adhesion between the hair shaft and the inner root sheath. It seems that there is premature keratinisation of the inner root sheath and this reduces the adhesion with the hair shaft. There are cases where more than one genetically related person developed the hair loss. Blond haired children age 2 to 5 years are most likely to be affected but loose Anagen syndrome can appear later in life as well. The syndrome improves with age of its own accord in children but development in older individuals indicates the hair loss will be more persistent. There are no known effective treatments.