Can Stress Make My Hair Fall Out

Other Hair Loss Factors

Why does Stress make Hair fall out

There are other factors that can also cause hair loss, including but not limited to:

Chemotherapy
Nervous habits
Pregnancy, childbirth, and birth control pill usage

If your hair is thinning, or youre experiencing baldness and it seems abnormal its a good idea to see your doctor in order to determine the cause.

Also, if youre concerned that stress is the culprit, its always a good idea to cut down on lifestyle stress and find some effective coping techniques for the stress that remains. Specifically, the following resources can help.

What Is The Relationship Between Hair Loss In Women And Menopause

During menopause, you might see one of two things happen with your hair. You might start growing hair where you didnt before. Or, you might see the hair you have start to thin. One cause may be changing levels of hormones during menopause. Estrogen and progesterone levels fall, meaning that the effects of the androgens, male hormones, are increased.

During and after menopause, hair might become finer because hair follicles shrink. Hair grows more slowly and falls out more easily in these cases.

Your healthcare provider will do a thorough examination and take a detailed history to help you deal with changes in hair growth. You may be directed to have your iron levels or thyroid hormone levels tested. Your medications might be changed if what you take is found to affect hair loss or growth.

How Stress Can Lead To Hair Loss

You may have heard that stress can cause hair loss, and its true. While the first two causes of hair loss are genetically programmed, hair loss due to stress is environmentally caused and may be more easily controlled if the stress can be managed.

Excessive physical or emotional stresslike that associated with injury, illness, or surgerycan cause one of two types of hair loss:

Alopecia areata: This stress-induced hair loss involves a white blood cell attack on the hair follicles. With this type of hair loss, the hair also falls out within weeks , but can involve the entire scalp and even body hair. Hair may grow back on its own, but treatment may also be required.
Telogen effluvium: With this more common and less severe type of hair loss, the hair stops growing and lies dormant, only to fall out 2 or 3 months later. Then it grows back within 6 to 9 months.

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Treatment For Male Pattern Baldness

There are two main treatments for this type of hair loss: finasteride and minoxidil. Finasteride is a tablet taken daily and its only suitable for men.

If youre a man living with male pattern baldness, visit our online hair loss clinic to learn about how finasteride works. We offer Finasteride, Propecia and also Regaine foam for men – which contains minoxidil.

If youre a woman experiencing hair loss, you may benefit from minoxidil, find out more about women’s hair loss treatments here.

Can Heartbreak Cause Hair Loss

Heartbreak is the most common cause of hair loss due to emotional stress or trauma. It can last for as long as the heartbreak goes on for, plus an additional 7 or 8 months for the hair to grow back properly.

This is because the emotional stress the heartbreak will shift hair follicles into the resting phase too quickly, preventing them from growing properly. The hair then moves into the shedding phase and starts again. However, if the emotional trauma is not addressed, the cycle happens again before the hair can grow properly.

Once the emotional stress has been resolved or is being resolved, the hair can start to regrow. However, this can take roughly 7 to 8 months, as all the hair that was pushed into the resting phase early needs to shed before it can regrow.

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Stress And Hair Loss: The Basics

Contrary to popular belief, stress is not linked to male pattern baldness the form of hair loss that causes you to permanently lose hair around your hairline, temples and the crown of your scalp.

Telogen effluvium affects your hair by interrupting the natural hair growth cycle.

Normally, there are four different growth phases during the hair cycle as it grows from below the skin to its full length, then falls out to be replaced by a new hair:

The first phase is the anagen phase, during which the hair grows to its full length.
The second phase is the catagen phase, during which the old, fully grown hair follicle detaches from the skin.
The third phase is the telogen phase, also known as the resting phase, during which a new hair starts to grow from the follicle to replace the old one.
The fourth phase is the exogen phase, during which the old hair falls out, with the new hair growing in its place.

Just like your skin and nails, your hair is constantly undergoing this growth cycle. Weve covered each phase of the hair growth cycle in more detail in our guide to the hair growth process.

Each phase of the hair growth cycle varies in length. Hairs usually stay in the anagen phase for up to six years during which they grow to their full length.

About 90 percent of your hairs are in the anagen phase at any time, meaning that most of your hair is constantly growing.

What Are The Cycles Of Hair Growth

Hair goes through three cycles:

The anagen phase can last from two years to eight years. This phase generally refers to about 85% to 90% of the hair on your head.
The catagen phase is the time that hair follicles shrink and takes about two to three weeks.
The telogen phase takes about two to four months. At the end of this phase, the hair falls out.

Your shorter hairs like eyelashes, arm and leg hair and eyebrows have a short anagen phase about one month. Your scalp hair can last up to six years or even longer.

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Different Types Of Stress

telogen effluvium when your body tells more hair than usual to stop growing across your scalp
alopecia areata when you lose large amounts of hair in patches on your scalp
trichotillomania when you pick and pull out hairs on your head or around your body without realising youre doing it

Seven Years Of Research

How Stress Can Cause Hair Loss And How To Fix It.

Like I already said, losing loads of hair really got me worried. Very soon after my hair loss started, it began to rapidly develop and I found myself totally unable to accept it

I needed help. And I needed it fast!

So, obviously my first approach was to ask the experts. Being very technically minded, the questions I posed to these hair loss professionals were quite specific* about the hair loss process.

* I wanted to know why the rate, region and age at which hair loss starts can vary so much. I also asked why the hormone dihydrotestosterone can be linked to both hair lossand hair growth.

I considered these questions extremely relevant to the hair loss process and, as such, quite straightforward for a hair loss specialist to answer

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When To See A Doctor For Stress

Stress does cause hair loss, but it isnt the only cause. If youre experiencing sudden and ongoing hair loss, visiting your family doctor is a good first step. Your doctor can evaluate the hair loss, review your medical history, and refer you to a dermatologist if necessary.

You might think of a dermatologist as just a skin doctor, but this doctor also specializes in problems of hair and nails. Visiting a doctor sooner, rather than later, can improve your outcome.

What Is A Hormonal Imbalance

A hormonal imbalance occurs when your body produces too much or too little of the important hormones in your bloodstream. Although an occasional irregularity is not harmful, a major imbalance can have severe consequences on your health.

Hormones are chemicals in your body that are produced by the endocrine glands. Hormones move through your bloodstream to reach the organs and tissues in your body, and regulate functions like:

Appetite and metabolism

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Slowing Down The Stress Train

The best way to combat stress-related hair loss is to get rid of the stress. Given the circumstances under which were all living today, it may not be possible to completely erase stress from your life. But there are some steps you can take to lower your stress levels and potentially slow or stop that hair loss

Supplement with stress-reducing nutrition. Adding 250 mg to 400 mg of the amino acid L-theanine to your diet can help lower cortisol and reduce stress. If you add turmeric to that, youve really got an anti-stress combo going on. Turmeric has been shown to lower stress and elevate neurotransmitters such as serotonin the feel-good hormone.

Try yoga or tai chi. Both of these practices involve gentle movement and have been proven to reduce stress. They also boost circulation, which can help encourage hair growth.

Take a breath. If you dont have a lot of time, taking five minutes for some mindful breathing can really help relieve stress and boost your mood and focus. Make sure youre comfortable and close your eyes. Then, focus on breathing and out. Try not to think about anything but your breath. If your mind does wander, gently bring it back to your breathing.

Editors note: Did you know that when you take your body from acid to alkaline you can boost your energy, lose weight, soothe digestion, avoid illness and achieve wellness? Click here to discover The Alkaline Secret to Ultimate Vitality and revive your life today!

Other Causes Of Hair Loss

Traction alopecia.This form of hair loss is caused by the repeated stress of wearing your hair in tight buns, ponytails or braids. Hair loss is often along your hairline and may be reversible if you intervene early.
Trichotillomania. This is a psychological disorder where a person feels the overwhelming need to pull out their own hair. Symptoms typically onset between the ages of

If your child is experiencing hair loss, its a good idea to visit a doctor. They can help you determine if theres a medical cause leading to hair loss or if its caused by genetic factors.

In some cases, an early diagnosis can increase chances of regrowing hair.

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Does Emotional Stress Cause Hair Loss

Emotional stress, such as loss of a loved one, work-related pressure, financial troubles or parenting problems, can cause hair loss. These changes in mood can trigger hormonal imbalances, which lead to hair loss, often through telogen effluvium.

During periods of extreme emotional stress, telogen effluvium can cause the hair to fall out. Telogen effluvium is the most common type of stress-induced hair loss but is not permanent. Hair often grows back within 2 or 3 months.

Emotional stress can also trigger a specific type of alopecia, called alopecia areata. This is characterised by sudden bald patches on the scalp, which can spread to cover the entire head. Again, hair loss caused by alopecia areata is not permanent and often grows back, although sometimes treatment is required.

How Stress Causes Hair Loss

Medically reviewed by Kristin Hall, FNP

Noticed more hairs on your brush, pillow or around the shower drain than normal? Dealing with hair loss is never fun, especially when youre not sure whats causing it.

Most male hair loss results from androgenic alopecia, or male pattern baldness a form of hair loss triggered by a genetic sensitivity to DHT.

However, its also possible for a range of other factors to cause and contribute to hair loss.

One of these factors is emotional stress. If youre feeling overly stressed due to work, your personal life or anything else, its possible that this stress could contribute either to mild hair thinning, or significant hair loss.

Below, weve explained how and why stress can cause you to lose hair. Weve also looked at a range of treatment options that can help you regrow any hair you lose due to stress.

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Habits And Lifestyle Changes

Changing your lifestyle and habits can often help to reduce stress. If you often feel stressed, try using the techniques below to limit your exposure to sources of stress and manage stress when you experience it:

If your hair loss is caused by chronic stress, understanding and coping with the stress in healthier ways may help you to regrow some or all of the hair that youve lost.

This is something that youll need to discuss with your healthcare provider.

How Common Is Hair Loss In Women

Stress can cause hair loss: Here’s what you can do to stop it

Many people think that hair loss only affects men. However, it is estimated that more than 50% of women will experience noticeable hair loss. The most significant cause of hair loss in women is female-pattern hair loss , which affects about one-third of susceptible women, which equals out to some 30 million women in the United States.

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Different Types Of Alopecia

Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss, and there are two main types: alopecia areata and androgenic alopecia. Alopecia may cause hair loss only on the scalp or all over the body. It may result in thinning hair, patches of hair loss, some balding, or total baldness, and it may be permanent or temporary. There are numerous causes, including genetics. Talk to your doctor about possible treatments.

The Relation Between Stress And The Hair Cycle

There are approximately 100,000 hair follicles on the adult scalp . Each hair follicle is constantly cycling between growth and rest. The majority of these hair follicles are in the growth phase at any given time. When the hair follicle transitions to telogen, or the resting phase, the hair is shed. During an episode of telogen effluvium, a trigger causes a sudden, abnormal shift of hairs into the telogen phase all at once. One possible trigger for this sudden shift? Significant emotional stress.

What qualifies as significant emotional stress? Think major, negative life event . While a single bad day at work shouldnt meet this threshold, severe and prolonged stress secondary to the Covid-19 pandemic, for instance, could certainly qualify.

To test the relationship between substantial stress and hair loss, researchers giving birth can also trigger an episode.

Diffuse thinning

Temporary in nature

The other good news? The hair loss is temporary, and should return to itspre-effluvium density, although this process is generally slow. It can take months before the shedding stops, and then months to years for lost hair to grow back at the sluggish rate of ~½ inch per month.

In some circumstances, hair does not fully return to its normal density. For one, telogen effluvium can uncover other types of long-standing hair loss . Additionally, overall hair density is expected to slowly decrease with age, and in few , telogen effluvium can be chronic and lasts for multiple years.

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Reverse Hair Loss From Stress

Stress-related hair loss is not permanent. As soon as you relax and the stress stops, your hair will resume its normal growth cycle. So dont worry if youve been seeing extra stress-induced hair loss because both time and stress hair loss treatments will be your new best friend.

Adding a supplement and hair oils can put you on the fast-track to healthy-looking hair. Want to know how to regain hair loss from stress? Check out some of the recommendations below.

This all-natural oil is packed with Omega 6 and 9 fatty acids and vitamin E. To help treat damaged hair from either stress or lack of care, castor oil is a recommended stress hair loss treatment that both promotes hair growth and prevents hair loss.

Biotin is a B vitamin that nourishes your stressed tresses, leaving it healthier and longer. As a bonus, its also great for growing healthy nails and skin. A biotin supplement for a brief period of time can help reverse the noticeable signs of hair loss due to stress.

Not All Hair Loss Is Anxiety Related

It’s also important to note that not all hair loss is anxiety related, but the two may occur at a similar period of time. Some people that start to suffer from hair loss are at an age with many other stresses, like kids, work, and finances. Because they happen at the same age they may seem related, but are technically different conditions.

Furthermore, some people start to feel anxiety**_ because_** they’re experiencing hair loss. In a way, hair loss is their anxiety trigger, and they experience greater levels of anxiety because they are so worried about losing their hair.

Finally, sometimes those with anxiety simply see more hair loss where it doesn’t exist, because of their fears. It’s not uncommon for hair to look exactly the same but anxiety plays tricks with the mind to make it seem or feel like more fell out than usual.

While anxiety can absolutely cause hair to fall out – in some cases in very large clumps – anxiety is not always the problem. Sometimes the problem is simply that your anxiety causes you to think more and care more about your hair than necessary, giving the impression that the two are related.

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