When we are particularly stressed, we will often quip that we are “pulling our hair out.” But the question is does that mean we are literally losing hair? And if so, how does stress create hair loss?
Like many old adages, the saying has its roots in reality. Stress can – indeed – cause you to lose your hair. Knowing that, our job is to identify stress-related hair loss and help patients recover from it.
Can Stress and Anxiety Cause Hair Loss?
Yes, but we are not exactly sure why. According to the National Institutes of Health, stress and anxiety are linked to a number of health conditions – from depression to digestive issues. Of course, we all know how hard it is to sleep when you are stressed out and all of these link to hair loss.
So, is your hair loss directly because of the stress? We do not know yet. But we do know that there is a correlation. It could be that because stress causes digestive issues you don’t get enough of the proper nutrients… or it could be that stress hormones like cortisol somehow impact the hair growth cycle.
Whatever it is, we know that if you are chronically stressed then you are likely to lose some hair over it.
What Does Stress Hair Loss Look Like?
There are three different kinds of hair loss that are associated with stress. That makes it a little harder to say what stress-related hair loss looks like. So, let’s talk about each of them:
- Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss. When you develop alopecia areata, your body attacks its own hair follicles. When the hair follicles are damaged, the hair is weakened and falls out or breaks. Then, the hair follicle is too damaged to grow new hair.
- Telogen effluvium. This happens when your hair follicles enter the natural telogen or resting phase and then, once they have rested, don’t remember that it is time to get back to work growing new hair. Stress is one of the reasons why this may occur. Telogen effluvium is one of the most common types of hair loss.
- We understand that the life cycle of hair is very dependent on hormones, including testosterone in all its many forms. So, we have reason to believe that cortisol and other stress hormones create the problem… but the answers are not yet black and white.
- Trichotillomania. The Mayo Clinic describes trichotillomania as the “irresistible urge to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows or other areas of your body. Hair pulling can be a way of dealing with negative or uncomfortable feelings, such as stress, tension, loneliness, boredom or frustration.” When patients develop this, they are literally pulling their hair out due to stress.
How Can I Stop My Hair Falling Out Due to Stress?
It seems like a cliché response but… if your hair loss is stress-related, the biggest thing you can do to stop losing your hair is reduce the stress. As many as one in four Americans report that they are so stressed it makes it hard to function.
While we cannot pinpoint the exact point where stress leads to hair loss, it is definitely before it begins to cripple your ability to do things. The first thing you can do to address your stress is talk to someone about it. If you are not ready for a mental health professional, talk to a good friend or family member that you trust.
Consider activities that help you fight off the physical effects of stress – like exercise or massage therapy. Listen to music, meditate, or even just go for a walk out in nature to help reduce stress. Try deep breaths. And when you are ready, talk to a mental health professional about your stress.
Of course, we understand that even if it is stress that is causing your hair loss, hair loss itself can cause more stress. It’s like a never-ending cycle. With that in mind, another thing you can do to fight stress-related hair loss is to talk to a hair loss expert.
When you meet with a member of our staff, they will help you identify the source of your hair loss and, sometimes, knowing really is half the battle. The good news is if stress is causing your hair loss, then you are not doomed to be balding forever. Stress-related hair loss can grow back once you get the stress under control.
Precision Hair Restoration can help you reduce the stress of hair loss by identifying the cause.
Once you know what is causing your hair loss, we can help you fix it. Whether it is a program for stress reduction or hair replacement surgery, Precision Hair Restoration understands that your hair is important to you. Stop losing it to something you can control and call us today.
