Can Stress Cause Hair Loss?

Can stress cause hair loss? The short answer is yes, but let’s explore the complex relationship between stress and hair loss. The connection depends largely on the type of hair loss involved –its extent and permanence and how those vary between individuals.

However, one thing always remains consistent; losing your hair can be an incredibly difficult experience, whether the loss is temporary or permanent, caused by stress or otherwise. Read on to discover how stress can cause hair loss, as well as how to combat and remedy it.

Who Experiences Hair Loss Due to Stress?

Stress-related hair loss can affect anybody who has recently experienced trauma or extremely elevated stress levels. Trauma refers to a deeply distressing experience, ranging from physical and mental illness to accidents, divorce, or bereavement. Stress can cause hair loss regardless of age or gender as the condition is prompted by environmental factors rather than being hereditary.

Why Does Stress Related Hair Loss Occur?

The reason stress-related hair loss may occur depends on the condition experienced. Hair loss due to stress is most commonly due to one of three conditions:

• Telogen effluvium: here, stress can cause hair loss by forcing the follicles to enter a state of rest. This results in hair falling out from the friction caused by simple daily activities, such as combing and washing. With telogen effluvium, hair doesn’t necessarily fall out as much as stops growing. Telogen effluvium can be extensive, affecting up to 70% of scalp hair.
• Trichotillomania: this is a disorder in which an individual compulsively pulls hair from the body, including the scalp, as a reaction to stress. The individual often doesn’t realise the practice is occurring.
• Alopecia areata: this condition is caused by several factors that may or may not include stress. Alopecia areata triggers the body’s immune system to attack the individual’s hair follicles, in turn causing hair to fall out either in patches or completely. Having alopecia areata can also cause stress which can create a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Despite their differences, all of the above forms of hair loss are, or can be, a reaction to stress. However, they are not the only reasons that stress can cause hair loss.

• Stress can cause hormonal imbalances that lead to hair loss. Increased volumes of testosterone can be activated by an influx of adrenaline and have been known to trigger hair loss, particularly in women.
• Stress can cause hair loss through poor nutrition. A common side-effect of stress is to stop taking care of yourself, which can lead to malnutrition and result in hair loss.
  Additionally, stress can cause hair loss by affecting digestion to the point that nutrients may not be properly absorbed.

How Can You Combat Stress-Related Hair Loss?

A range of different treatments exists to combat hair loss through stress. Common treatments include ointments, tablets, lotions, and different forms of therapy, amongst other methods. If these methods are unsuccessful, hair transplant surgery is an increasingly popular option.

The best way to figure out the right treatment for you is by consulting your GP. They will help you determine whether stress truly is the root cause of your hair loss, as well as offer suitable alternative treatment options.

However, the most effective treatment for stress-related hair loss is undoubtedly not to target the loss of hair itself but the stress causing it, which you can also discuss with your GP. Once the cause of your stress has been recognised, you can work on tackling and hopefully extinguishing it.

As well as removing the source of stress from your life, it’s also good to look at regularly practising stress-prevention techniques as this will help prevent hair loss from returning. Some tips to reduce and prevent stress include:

• Diet– eat filling, healthy meals and make sure to drink enough water.
• Sleep – aim for eight hours of sleep at night.
• Exercise – known to release endorphins and reduce stress levels, exercise can help bring you back to a calmer state of mind.
• Mindfulness – practising yoga or mindfulness can help banish anxiety or nervous thoughts.
• Help – if you’re feeling down or struggling with stress, talk to a friend or loved one. If stress is holding you back and you can’t see a way out of it, seek help from a professional.

Does Hair Loss Due To Stress Grow Back?

When stress can cause hair loss, it’s likely that you’ll only experience hair loss for as long as you are feeling stressed or anxious. Your hair should begin regrowth typically within a few months after lowering your stress levels.

Sometimes, however, removing your source of stress isn’t so easy. What’s more, the regrowth timeframe can vary drastically between individuals, and trying to accept your newfound hair loss for the time being, even if temporary, can be incredibly tough.

Easing the Transition

One way to ease this difficulty is by wearing a wig. Wigs have proven to increase the confidence of those with hair loss (stress-related or otherwise), boost self-esteem, and create the opportunity to experiment with different looks in previously unavailable ways. They also have the added bonus of not putting any strain on your existing hair, which is particularly useful if you are dealing with telogen effluvium.

Wigs allow you to remain self-assured in situations where you may otherwise feel uncomfortable, and make managing daily life with hair loss that much more bearable. Hairpieces are also extremely effective if you need to cover a certain trouble area. To prepare yourself, read up on wearing a wig for the first time, as well as what you need to keep in mind when purchasing a wig.

Potentially the worst part of stress hair loss is that worrying about your condition will keep you stuck in the hair loss cycle! So put yourself first, employ the above stress-reliever techniques, and remember that hair loss is more common than you think. Keep reading our blog for more advice, stories and information from those also experiencing hair loss, and see our comprehensive hair loss guide to answer any other questions you may have.