Help! I'm 24 and for the past 3wks, my hair is falling out in chunks when Im washing it! I'm constantly leaving trails of it everywhere, anywhere I sit, etc. It keeps falling out with the follicle, from the root. I haven't dyed my hair in about 5mos, and I usually used to dye it all the time, every 3mos since I was around 16, due to grey hair (genetics). I was thinking that maybe something triggered this a few months ago, I had food poisoning, following the Flu for 2wks (which I never had before), and I lost 10lbs in 3 days. I weigh usually around 108, and went down to 97, when I was sick. I was terrified, but I put back the weight right away after I regained my health. My eating habits are really bad, I eat cookies & chocolate all the time, but recently changed my diet, and will remain eating healthy. I never took vitamins before and started taking VitaPower Multi-Vitamins (about 2wks ago), includes all the minerals/supplements, biotin, b-12, zinc, etc. I have also been stressed out from school the past few months, and have been struggling to find a job. I also had a root canal in December and have to still get a crown for it. So, maybe this all contributes to my hair loss. This has really put me down, because I had thick, luscious volumness hair, and now my ponytail is very small. I can't go to a doctor yet, because I'm still waiting for my insurance to go through. So, can anyone please help me, if you happen to know anything about this? Thank You!

First of all, how tall are you - hopefully you're under 5'4 for your weight. Secondly, pretty much everything you've mentioned can result in hair loss: being sick, certain medications, stress (which can be very high in school and the fact that you are unable to find a job).

From webmd:
"Normally, hair goes through a regular growth cycle. During the anagen phase, which lasts three to four years, the hair grows. During the telogen phase, which lasts about three months, the hair rests. At the end of the telogen phase, the hair falls out and is replaced by new hair.

The average person loses about 100 hairs each day. Losing excess hair can be a normal part of growing older, but it also can have other causes, including drugs or disease....

.... Other health conditions that can cause excess hair loss include:

* Medications such as antidepressants, retinoids, NSAIDs, blood thinners, birth control pills and other hormonal treatments, high blood pressure medications, chemotherapy, and radiation
* Severe infections
* Major surgery
* Overactive or underactive thyroid
* Other hormonal problems
* Severe stress
* Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus
* Fungal infections of the scalp
* Pregnancy and childbirth

Certain hair care practices, such as wearing tight ponytails or weaves, or regularly bleaching or perming the hair can also lead to hair loss. Some people compulsively pull out their hair. This psychological disorder is called trichotillomania.

When hair loss is related to a medication, stopping the drug usually prevents further hair loss, and the hair will eventually grow back. Hair also tends to grow back after most illnesses, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. Wearing a wig or hat can hide the hair loss until the hair returns. Hair transplants are a more permanent hair-replacement solution."