Hair Fall Due to Stress: What’s the Connection?
We all experience stress at least once in our fast-paced lives. But when the pressure becomes constant, it doesn’t just affect our minds; it affects our hair too. If you are finding more hair strands than usual on your pillowcase and in the shower drain, stress might be the cause to blame. Stress is the most significant cause of hair fall after genetics, which is why it is crucial to understand how to prevent hair fall during those challenging periods in life. In this blog, let’s understand the connection between stress, anxiety, and hair loss, how stress affects our hair’s natural growth, and how to prevent hair loss due to stress.
Stress and Hair Loss
Most people tend to shed between 50 and 100 single hairs per day. But at times, due to stress and other reasons, hair falls out more, and less hair grows in, which causes hair loss. Hair loss caused due to stress is called telogen effluvium and occurs when the normal hair growth cycle of our hair is disrupted. While it is natural to lose a few hair strands daily, stress can cause extreme hair loss. The connection between stress and hair loss involves complex biological mechanisms. Research confirms that stress can trigger a cascade of hormonal responses that directly impact the hair follicles. Chronic stress causes excessive production of corticotropin-releasing hormone and stress hormones like cortisone, which disrupt the natural hair growth cycle.
The good news is that stress-related hair loss is usually temporary. With proper management techniques and lifestyle changes, excessive shedding can be reduced, and healthy hair can regrow. The rate of regrowth is different for everyone. Human hair growth occurs in a cycle of four phases. At any given time, each of our hair follicles is in a different phase of this cycle:
- Anagen phase: The growing phase of hair, which lasts up to two to seven years.
- Catagen phase: A short, two-week phase that occurs when the hair follicle begins to shrink.
- Telogen phase: A three-month resting phase.
- Exogen phase: Occurs when the follicle sheds the hair and begins new growth.
Hair Loss Due to Stress and Anxiety
Not only do stress and anxiety play a role in hair loss, but they are also linked to three distinct conditions that can cause hair loss:
- Telogen Effluvium: This condition is a common cause of temporary hair loss. It occurs when extreme stress focuses hair follicles into a resting phase so that they don’t produce new strands. These hairs fall out approximately 2-4 months after the stressful event and can fall out even if you are just washing, combing, or touching them. Common triggers include – Major life changes (divorce, job loss, bereavement), Excessive weight loss, Childbirth, and recovering from serious illness.
- Alopecia Areata: Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disease that involves the body’s immune system attacking the hair follicles, causing the hair to fall out. In some cases, alopecia areata can cause hair to be thin, while it can also lead to bald spots. Unlike other kinds of hair loss, alopecia areata is a reversible hair loss as the follicles (a structure that encloses the root of the hair) of hair are not damaged.
- Trichotillomania: It is an obsessive-compulsive disorder where people often dealing with this condition deal with negative emotions like stress and anxiety. This leads to a constant urge to pull the hair from the scalp, face, and other parts of the body. Oftentimes, people may pull out their hair out of habit or when they are bored without even realising it.
The relationship between stress and hair loss is a potentially vicious cycle. Hair loss causes significant psychological distress, which may worsen the condition. Understanding these causes of stress and hair loss can provide crucial insights to prevent and reduce stress-related hair fall.
Female Hair Loss from Stress
For women, stress-related hair fall can feel even more distressing. Hormonal fluctuations combined with daily pressures can make female hair loss from stress very common. It is characterised by the gradual thinning of the hair on the scalp. Most people tend to shed between 50 and 100 single hairs per day. But at times, hair falls out more, and less hair grows in, which causes hair loss. In females, it can be caused due to hormonal changes like pregnancy, menopause, or stress, which are the most common causes. There are many hair loss treatments available for hair loss in females, including homeopathic treatments to rebalance hormones, nutritional guidance for better hair health, and PRP therapy for hair rejuvenation.
Stress and Hair Loss in Males
Men, too, can suffer from stress-related hair loss; it is the most common problem faced by men, and the reasons may differ from person to person. It starts subtly with a slight receding hairline, thinner hair at the crown, which gradually results in bald spots. Men are more likely to experience pattern baldness or receding hairlines than compared to women. Men may experience hair loss due to underlying factors like genetics, lifestyle habits, or environmental stress. There are many hair loss treatments available for men, including homeopathy solutions for long-term results, scalp treatments to strengthen weak hair follicles, and PRP treatments for faster hair regrowth.
How to prevent and reduce hair loss due to stress?
Here are some tips to help you prevent hair loss due to stress:
- Stress management: Practice stress-reduction strategies like meditation, deep breathing, or engaging in hobbies to help lower stress levels, which can help the health of your hair inadvertently. Deep breathing activates the body’s natural relaxation response, thus reducing stress.
- Maintain a balanced diet: Maintaining a balanced diet with adequate protein and micronutrients is important for hair growth. Include a variety of nutrient-rich foods in your diet, such as fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Hair health requires nutrients such as vitamins A, C, D, and E, biotin, and iron. Consult a healthcare professional or a nutritionist for personalised dietary advice.
- Stay hydrated: Hydration is very important for our overall health, especially hair health. Drink plenty of water, around 8-10 glasses daily, to prevent dehydration. Insufficient hydration causes hair shafts to become fragile, leading to breakage and split ends.
- Exercise Regularly: Physical activity releases endorphins that boost mood and reduce stress. Moderate exercise, yoga, or meditation can help lower cortisol levels while also improving overall blood circulation for healthy hair growth.
- Gently massage the scalp: Regular scalp massages with soothing and nourishing hair oils stimulate blood circulation to the hair follicles, improving hair growth. It also helps you to instantly relax and reduce stress.
- Take Gentle care of the hair: Avoid tight hairstyles that can cause tension and traction on the hair follicles, leading to hair breakage and damage. Use gentle and mild shampoos, conditioners, and masks that are suited for your hair type and reduce getting chemical treatments that can damage your hair.
- Consider supplements for hair health: Certain supplements may help with hair growth, especially if you have nutrient deficiencies. Biotin, zinc, and iron supplements can support hair health when levels are low.
Conclusion
Hair fall is a common concern that affects both men and women. It can make you feel like you’re losing a part of yourself, significantly impacting your confidence and self-esteem. With the right hair fall treatment in Pune, you can restore your hair to become healthy and shiny like before and regain your confidence. At Homeocare Clinic, we are dedicated to providing our patients with the best quality and personalised treatment plans tailored to fulfil their specific requirements. Our experienced team of dermatologists offers safe, natural, and highly effective solutions to promote the regrowth of our patients’ hair. Contact us now for the best hair treatment in Pune.
