The term "common baldness" usually means male-pattern baldness.
Male-pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in
men. Men who have this type of hair loss usually have inherited
the trait. Men who start losing their hair at an early age tend
to develop more extensive baldness. In male-pattern baldness,
hair loss typically results in a receding hairline and baldness
on the top of the head. Women may develop female-pattern
baldness. In this form, the hair becomes thin over the entire
scalp. One person that can help you is perhaps your doctor. It
could be related to your diet, any medicines you're taking,
whether you've had a recent illness and how you take care of
your hair. For a woman, it may be related to your menstrual
cycle, pregnancies and menopause. The doctor may want to do a
physical exam to look for other causes of hair loss. Finally,
blood tests or a biopsy (taking a small sample of cells to
examine under a microscope) of your scalp may be needed.
Depending on your type of hair loss, treatments are available.
If a medicine is causing your hair loss, your doctor may be able
to prescribe a different medicine. Recognizing and treating an
infection may help stop the hair loss. Correcting a hormone
imbalance may prevent further hair loss. Medicines may help in
slowing down or preventing the development of common baldness.
One medicine, minoxidil (brand name: Rogaine), is available
without a prescription. It is applied to the scalp. Both men and
women can use it. Another medicine, finasteride (brand name:
Propecia) is available with a prescription. It comes in pills
and is only for men. It may take up to 6 months before you can
tell if one of these medicines is working. If adequate treatment
is not available for your type of hair loss, you may consider
trying different hairstyles or wigs, hairpieces, hair weaves or
artificial hair replacement.

About the author:
Jane Preeter is a hair stylist who has great interest in her
profession. She has studied many hair loss treatments, different
methods of hair removal, and a wide variety of hair treatments.