How Does Stress Cause Hair Loss?

---

Home / Hair Loss / How Does Stress Cause Hair Loss?

Posted on : June 21, 2021 | Category : Hair Loss | Author: John Kahen

You may have heard about the connection between stress and hair loss, but the question that arises is the claim made is valid to what extent? Either you feel exhausted by work or are puzzled up in life due to some situations such as divorce or a death in the family. Precisely, it is pretty apparent that stress is the reason for many health issues in the body. 

So, therefore in this article, you will acquire its causes and types of stress hair loss.  

Is it possible?

Hair loss is known as alopecia in medical terms. During the lifespan, both males and females might experience hair loss. If you are undergoing severe hair loss, stress might be the reason. 

Keep going to study more about how stress affects hair health. You will come to know whether its outcomes are for a lifetime and what you can practice increasing hair regrowth. 

Types of stress-related hair loss

It is not necessary that stress is the only reason for hair loss. However, three kinds of hair loss are linked with high-stress levels:

Telogen effluvium

Telogen effluvium (TE) happens when there are alterations in the variables of hair follicles that are growing hair. If this change occurs during the telogen or halting phase of hair growth, the effects could be in severe hair fall. 

This thinning might not happen all over the scalp. Instead, it mainly occurs in the form of patches. The main area that gets most impacted is the center of the scalp. People influenced by TE generally do not drop all their scalp hair. 

In severe conditions, you might also have thinning hair on the other parts of the body. This involves eyebrows or genital regions. TE is the second essential kind of hair loss noticed by dermatologists. This condition can occur to both males and females at any age. You need not get worried as TE does not bring any perpetual harm to the hair follicles. The reason for causing TE will significantly impact outcomes than whether it will take a short time or longer. 

Alopecia areata

Alopecia areata (AA) is also an autoimmune disease. It forms when the hair follicles get attacked by your immune system. This could be the cause of severe stress, and its outcome could be hair loss.

Under this condition, hair might be lost in round patches from the scalp or around the complete scalp. When AA appears to its more severe phase, it is known as alopecia Universalis, in this hair is shed from the whole body. 

Under AA, the hair might regrow and constantly shed over some time. AA can occur in both males and females at any age, as it is stated that over six million people have been affected in the United States. 

Unfortunately, there is no permanent cure for AA, though some prescribed medicines might assist those over 50 percent hair loss. 

Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is also termed a hair-pulling disorder. It includes the strength to pluck out hair from the scalp and other regions of the body. This condition is determined as an impulse control disorder. 

You will notice that hair pulling occurs without any thought, such as feeling bored or inattentive. The hair-pulling might also be more voluntary and utilized as the medium of stress buster or other negative feelings. 

Shedding of hair from the scalp, and eyebrows, or eyelashes is generally noticeable. This might lead to additional stress, continuing the cycle of the ailment. 

Trichotillomania usually evolves in teenagers and can be long-lasting. However, it is not apparent yet what leads to trichotillomania. The study implies that it might be genetic.  

Is stress-related hair loss permanent?

If the reason behind hair loss is stress, it is feasible for your hair to regrow in time. The speed of regrowth will vary from person to person. The growth cycle in humans has four phases. The standard scalp has about 100000 hair follicles. At any time, every hair strands of your hair will are in a distinct phase of this cycle:

• Anagen phase- this is the stage in which hair starts growing. It stands for about two to seven years. 
• Catagen Phase- this phase is petite. It is for about two weeks that happens when the hair follicle starts to shrink. 
• Telogen Phase- it is a three-month halting phase. 
• Exogen Phase- this stage occurs when the follicles drop the hair and start new growth. 

Therefore, if your hair is caused by stress, controlling your anxiety could be the primary key for getting back to the healthy speed of hair growth.

Also, you can read Do I Need To Use Minoxidil After A Hair Transplant Procedure?

There are many things that you can practice to lessen hair loss and develop new hair growth.

Diet and nutrition

The intake of a proper balanced diet and nourishment to the body is essential for your body's health and hair. 

It is vital to involve all the vitamins in a healthy diet, as some nutrients are crucial for hair regrowth. 

• Vitamin C- this vitamin is crucial for forming collagen, the skin's connective tissue discovered in hair follicles. Foods that consist of vitamin c comprise citrus fruits, broccoli, bell peppers, and strawberries. 
• Vitamin B- is specific, amongst other vitamins, that boosts healthy metabolism and healthy skin and hair. Vitamin B is found in foods such as dark leafy greens, beans, avocados, and nuts. 
• Vitamin E- this vitamin consists of potent antioxidants, which trigger a healthy scalp. Foods rich in vitamin E involve sunflower seeds, spinach, olive oil, broccoli, and shrimp. 

If you cannot intake these vitamins in your daily diet, consult your doctor for the supplements. They will discuss your possible choices and will advise you on the best medicine for you. It is recommended that you should never eat any medication without the doctor's supervision. 

Keeping your body hydrated is also crucial for the overall health of the body. Each cell of the body is dependent on the water to run properly. Men should prefer 15 and half cups of water every day, and women should drink 12 and half cups a day. This volume could be achieved by any source like food, water, and other drinks. Thus, the average amount of water we should drink every day is 8 glasses of water and let others come into the diet and other beverages.  

Stress management

Acquiring the habits of controlling your stress efficiently might benefit you to lessen the threat of future hair loss. However, you might have to practice it a plethora of times and try various stress management ways before deciding to provide you with the best outcomes. 

Some famous ways to lessen stress:

• Exercise

Doing physical activity is the most reliable way to eradicate the level of stress. It will be beneficial if you try going for a daily walk. Moreover, you can try Zumba classes or do some gardening or any mental exercise. 

• Hobbies

Making yourself busy with the stuff that you love doing. Try to follow your passion which ultimately serves to combat stress in the best way. You can link with some NGOs for social services, or if you love to do acting, then local community theaters are the best way to make your stress less.

• Writing

It is a special practice that everyone should do. Try to give some 5 or 8 minutes to write about yourself and your feelings or the things that lead you to stress. Seeing and reading those daily items that you suffer will make you strong enough to fight against them and cope with them. 

• Breathing and meditation

Meditating and breathing exercises are the best ways to let yourself concentrate on the present time. Even, you can try some other combinations of meditating and exercising like yoga and tai chi. 

See More: How COVID is Causing Hair Loss?

Topical treatments

Therefore, several topical lotions, oils, and other commodities might help prevent hair loss. 

• Topical Minoxidil (Rogaine)

It is an over-the-counter medicine. It can be obtained as an ointment, spray, or foam. It can be applied on the scalp, an eyebrow, or beard twice a day regularly. It is suggested that it is not apt for the other regions of the body. There is a difference in terms of usage for both men and women. However, it is not clear yet how minoxidil works, although it makes the life of the hair longer. It is analyzed that it might not provide the same results for everyone, and effects might take up to four months to be noticed. 

• Topical corticosteroids

Topical OTC and prescribed corticosteroids, such as prednisone, are utilized to treat alopecia areata, a condition with severe hair loss. In addition, they are usually used to treat other restoration options. 

• Castor oil

It is a traditional solution for hair restoration. However, anecdotal data implies that precise usage can boost up hair growth. 

What if you don’t see improvement?

It is very clear that the cause of hair loss is not restricted to stress. There are even many other aspects and conditions that are responsible for your hair loss. following are the other primary reasons for hair fall involves:

• aging
• heredity
• medicines, like some blood thinners or antidepressants
• chemotherapy
• ailment or recent surgery
• hormonal variations, like childbirth or menopause
• nutritional deficiency, like a lack of enough protein or iron

The bottom line

If the reason for hair loss is stress, then your hair follicles have not been injured or damaged permanently. If you can manage and control your stress and look after your health and well-being, your hair can have a regular return or regrowth of hair. But, if you do not notice any outcomes or your OTC means are not giving results, then it is time to contact Dr Kahen John at BHHR. He will assist you in diagnosing the leading cause of your hair loss, and he will suggest you at every step. We hope you would have got your answer to the question: does stress cause hair loss? But if you still feel any confusion or doubt, you are free to book your appointment, and Dr. John Kahen will give you the best possible solution for your problems. 

Here are a few more topics that you shouldn’t miss:
How Much Does A Hair Transplant Cost?
Everything You Need To Know About Beard Transplant?
Why do you lose hair?
Like this post? Don’t forget to share