Is Stress Causing Your Hair Loss
Too much stress on the body can result in hair loss, a condition known as telogen effluvium. Find out how to reduce stress to regain your healthier, fuller head of hair.
When you’re under stress, you may notice a lot of physical symptoms feeling anxious or exhausted, having trouble concentrating, and even getting sick with a headache or upset stomach. Stress can also be a cause of hair loss. When stress has you pulling out your hair, as the expression goes, you could be literally doing just that.
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Telogen Effluvium: Understanding This Cause of Hair Loss
Telogen effluvium is the term for hair loss that occurs temporarily as a result of some trauma, stress, or shock to your body. Telogen hairs are one type of hair, characterized by the end of the hair being shaped like a bulb, and effluvium means to flow out.
Some hair loss is normal, but telogen effluvium results in excessive hair loss due to a disruption in the natural growth and rest cycle of hair. Generally, between 80 and 90 percent of hair follicles on the scalp are actively growing, with the other 10 to 20 percent in the resting phase. Many events can disrupt this balance and result in temporary hair loss, typically seen as hair that falls out in clumps when you brush, wash, or style your locks.
Stress is known to be a trigger for telogen effluvium and risk factors that can cause this type of stress include:
Stopping Telogen Effluvium
Reduce Stress to Reduce Hair Loss
What Treatments Are Available For Stress
The first step to successfully treat stress-related hair loss will be a consultation with an experienced dermatologist. Your dermatologist will test for factors that are associated with telogen effluvium such as Vitamin D deficiency, thyroid abnormalities, or iron deficiency, and will create a custom treatment plan that addresses these factors as needed. There are numerous effective treatments available to address all types of hair loss, including stress-related hair loss. Your treatment plan may include oral and topical medications, laser treatments, injections, or even hair transplants.
How To Control Hair Fall Due To Stress
There are several ways you can address hair fall caused due to stress.
Over-the-counter, FDA-approved topical solutions and drugs like Minoxidil and Finasteride can help in promoting hair growth and act as treatments for hair loss due to stress. Minoxidil or Rogaine enhances the blood flow and oxygen supply to the scalp, thereby nourishing the hair follicles. Finasteride, on the other hand, is a prescription medication that reduces the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone , the hormone that is primarily responsible for hair loss in men. Finasteride stimulates hair growth by bringing down the DHT levels.
Massaging the scalp with certain essential oils is also said to be an effective remedy for hair loss. Some examples include lavender oil, castor oil, peppermint oil, rosemary oil, tea tree oil, lemongrass oil, and thyme oil.
Besides addressing hair loss, your stress level needs to be managed too. Relaxation techniques like yoga, exercise, meditation, breathing exercises, and positive thinking can effectively deal with stress. While yoga and meditation calm the mind, exercise releases chemicals like endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, which impact your mood and help you manage your stress.
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What Steps Can I Take To Prevent Or Slow Hair Loss
Unfortunately, certain types of hair loss are genetic, and very little can be done to prevent them. Genetic types of hair loss include alopecia areata and female pattern hair loss.
But other types of hair loss can be brought on by stress and a poor diet. Do your best to eat a balanced diet, and find ways to take care of your mental health.
For added benefit, stay up to date with your routine checkups. Anemia, low levels of vitamin D and abnormal thyroid hormones can all affect the health of your hair. Simple bloodwork from your primary care physician can determine if these conditions are contributing to your hair loss.
Black women in particular are prone to a type of hair loss called traction alopecia, which is caused by heat, chemicals and tight styles that pull at the hair root, including some braids, dreadlocks, extensions and weaves.
Stress And Telogen Effluvium
Telogen Effluvium is a form of diffuse hair loss on your scalp. It occurs when the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle is cut short by an internal disturbance in your body. This causes many more hairs than usual to move from their anagen phase into their telogen phase, resulting in excessive daily hair fall around three months later. On average, it is normal to lose up to 100 hairs a day, but postpartum shedding can result in as many as 400 hairs being shed in a 24-hour period.
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Signs & Symptoms Of Stress
The first sign of stress-related hair loss is noticeable, and excessive hair shedding defined as root strands per day. You may start to notice more strands on your brush or comb, more clumps in the shower, or falling about you as you journey through the day-to-day. Hair breaks, thins and ultimately, it falls out. Fortunately, stress-related hair loss can be treated and cured. To do this requires addressing and alleviating the root cause of the stress itself.
Use The Best Products
Stress can be very harsh on your hair, often resulting in significant hair loss. Which is why when you choose hair products you need to be extra careful. Not only should they suit your scalp, but they also should not make your hair dry or prone to breakage. To control hair fall, nourishing your scalp and hair is a must. You can either do it with a natural nourishing cleanser or with a nourishing hair mask. Natural ingredients found in your home like hibiscus, coconut oil, aloe vera, amla, etc are excellent sources of nourishment for hair that make them stronger, softer and longer.
But if you find it difficult to procure these natural ingredients or do not want to get into the mess these concoctions can be, you can switch your chemical hair products to natural ones. Using natural hair products is the easiest way of receiving the goodness of nature while you bathe. You can look for brands that prepare their products from natural ingredients and have no chemicals in its preparation, just like Coco Soul.
With that, we present to you,
Coco Soul Hair & Scalp Cleanser
Made with the purest of ingredients, this hair cleanser is exactly what you need to stop hair loss and regrow hair naturally. This hair cleanser effectively washes your hair, unclogs hair follicles, balances scalp oils and strengthens the roots. Infused with natural ingredients, it will leave your hair feeling soft and smooth and reduce hair fall. It contains –
Coco Soul Hair & Scalp Conditioner
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How Hormone Imbalance Leads To Thinning Hair
Women have 40% fewer androgen receptors than men do. So, while female hair thinning patterns tend to be different from menâs, DHT can still cause hair to grow thinner and less densely.
Women have 40% fewer androgen receptors than men do. So, while female hair thinning patterns tend to be different from menâs, DHT can still cause hair to grow thinner and less densely.
Women often see changes in their hairline or a widening part. You may also experience acne, unwanted facial hair growth, or irregular periods.
DHT is an androgen hormone thatâs responsible for the development of male traits. Women have a much lower level of it than men, but DHT can become elevated in women due to triggers like stress, glucose metabolism, and hormonal changes in motherhood. Itâs also produced in the scalp and causes the hair follicle to slowly shrink and eventually close entirely so that hair can no longer grow back. DHT sensitivity can also be caused by aging, smoking, medications, poor diet, and environmental toxins.
Saw Palmetto, Pumpkin Seed, Stinging Nettle, and African Cherry help to support healthy hormones and prevent the conversion of testosterone into DHT, which are critical for hair growth.
Stress Related Hair Loss: Why Pandemic Stress Might Mean Losing Some Hair
During the coronavirus pandemic, people have had a lot of stress to manage, changes to navigate, and life challenges to overcome. Its no surprise that many people been suffering from a range of stress-related skin conditions. Stress can take a toll on the body. During stress, a perceived threat causes the bodys fight or flight response to shift energy away from areas it considers non-essential until that threat has resolved. When youre stressed, you may notice that your skin and nails look less healthy. You may also find yourself losing hair. In this blog, we will walk through what stress-related hair loss is, why it happens, and how you can prevent long-term hair loss.
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Losing Hair From Stress What You Should Know About Hair Loss And Chronic Stress
If youre finding more strands of hair than usual on your pillowcase and in the shower drain, you may be wondering if anxiety is to blame.
Youve probably heard about a possible link between stress and hair loss, but is there any truth to that claim? Whether youre feeling frazzled by work or are overwhelmed by emotional events such as divorce or a death in the family, its natural to feel concerned about how stress can affect your body. Heres what you should know about stress and hair loss.
How U S Dermatology Partners Helps With Hair Regrowth
If youre struggling with stress-related hair loss, the U.S. Dermatology Partners team is here to help. Our locations are now reopened for non-emergency in-office visits. So, if youre interested in treatment for stress-related hair loss, you can start by scheduling your treatment consultation using the appointment request form on our website. Once we receive your information, one of our team members will be in touch to discuss the details of your visit.
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Popular Conditions & Treatments
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How Can I Prevent Stress
Like many other skin conditions, prevention can go a long way toward keeping you looking and feeling your best. Many people have experienced abnormally high levels of prolonged stress due to issues surrounding COVID-19. From job loss or instability to general fear about contracting the virus, this has been a challenging time. Its no surprise that people are really stressed. I know its easier said than done, but the first step to prevent further hair loss and start healing from stress-related hair loss is to start reducing stress. Some great ways to relieve stress and feel better include:
Are There Complications/side Effects Of Treatment
Minoxidil may irritate your scalp and cause dryness, scaling, itching and/or redness. See your dermatologist if this happens.
With Minoxidil you might also see hair growing in other places other than your scalp . Wash your face after you apply Minoxidil and make sure you avoid other areas when you apply it.
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Pcos Can Be A Trigger
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition in women in which the body manufactures more androgens, or male hormones, than it normally should. It is a potential cause of hormonal hair loss in women. Women who suffer from this condition may grow facial hair and extra body hair. One of the other symptoms of this condition is thinning of hair on the head. Women affected with PCOS may also experience weight gain, acne, menstrual irregularities, ovulation problems, depression, and infertility. Hair thinning may be the only outward sign that a woman is suffering from this condition.
Your Questions About Sudden Hair Loss
To help with your day-to-day problems, we put our scientific expertise at your disposal.
DAILY TIPS
Opt for a shorter haircut, as this always makes the sparse areas seem less obvious.For women, an above-the-shoulder cut gives an impression of volume.For men, wearing your hair very short is a good solution because it minimizes the difference between the areas with and without hair, making the thinning areas are less obvious.If you have any questions, speak to a hairdresser who will be able to help.If the hair loss is only mild, wearing a hat, scarf, or other hair accessory can be a good way to camouflage the thinning area.
CONCERNS/PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS
Yes, that is absolutely correct. Massaging the scalp activates the local microcirculation and helps supply the nutrients needed for strong hair growth.Try COMPLEXE 5 Regenerating plant extract and give yourself a massage. It promotes well-being and relaxation and is a wonderful tonic and stimulant for the scalp.
No, wearing a cap or a hat does not encourage hair loss. However, if it is very tight or you wear it very often and it rubs the same parts of your head, it can cause the hair to thin or break.
Not at all. Brushing helps remove hair that has already died, and any dust and dirt. However, it does not aggravate hair loss on the contrary, it is beneficial for the scalp because it aerates and volumizes the hair.
EFFECTS OF LIFESTYLE
ILLNESS
PRODUCT FAQ
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How Do I Know If My Hair Is Falling Out Due To Stress
More than 100 strands of hair clogging your shower drain or on the hair brush is a sure shot sign of hair loss. In telogen effluvium, you will notice hair thinning on the scalp. With alopecia, you may notice bald patches of hair on the scalp. With Trichotillomania, which causes constant pulling of hair, you may notice that your hair volume has reduced over time.
Make Sure You Have Enough Emotional Support
Depending on our upbringing and other factors, many men have been taught to avoid emotional sharing. This can create a tendency to internalize problems out of a belief that silence equates to strength. Unfortunately, those tendencies can completely exacerbate stress levels. The onset of hair loss can be emotionally devastating and can be a source of increased stress in and of itself.
Being able to talk about problems and challenges with a few close friends and family members will provide you with an emotional outlet that could change your life as well as your hair health. Taking advantage of that outlet will allow others to provide the emotional support you need in order to more effectively manage periods of high stress.
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