How To Regain Hair Loss From Stress

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:

Infections That Cause Hair Loss

A number of infections and illnesses can lead to hair loss. An infection that causes a high fever, a fungal skin infection, and bacterial infections like syphilis can all be responsible for balding or thinning hair. Treating the underlying infection can restore hair growth and prevent future hair loss. So your first step is to seek medical attention for the primary health problem.

Does Rogaine Actually Work

Many studies have shown the effectiveness of Rogaine as a treatment for hair loss. The International Society of Hair Restoration wrote that two studies found that the majority of patients who used 5% minoxidil for treating male pattern-baldness reported decreased hair loss, rapid onset of action in promoting new hair growth and very effective to effective new hair growth results during the treatment time.

At the Limmer Hair Transplant Center in San Antonio, Texas, many of our patients have seen thicker hair growth after using Rogaine. In the picture above, a female patient was very frightened when she began using minoxidil and experienced hair shedding. But, as you can see, she stuck with her routine of using the medication daily and saw her hair mass index go up four points after just two months of treatment!

So can Rogaine actually make your hair loss worse? Again, the short answer is no. It may seem as though you are losing more hair when you first start the treatment, but as long as you continue with your doctors plan, then you should begin to see fuller hair growth within a few months.

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How Extreme Stress Causes Hair Loss

Stress levels are high, and for some, that could mean less hair on your head.

Indeed, science supports the notion that significant emotional stress may be linked to at least one type of hair loss: telogen effluvium. Here is what you need to know about this common type of stress-induced hair loss.

Excess hair shedding may be a sign of telogen effluvium.

Getty

When Should I See A Doctor About My Hair Loss

Its a good idea to see a healthcare provider if your hair loss lasts more than 6 months or if you have any other symptoms like patches of hair loss, itching, or other irritation. You may need an additional workup for other causes of hair loss such as hormonal causes, nutritional deficiencies, or autoimmune hair loss. There may also be some treatments available while you wait for the hair to regrow.

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How Long Does It Take To Recover From Telogen Effluvium

Telogen effluvium is a self correcting condition, meaning it can resolve itself in 3-6 months. If triggers like stress, diet or hormonal imbalances are normalized, telogen effluvium can be cured. After a period of six months, the hair enters the anogen or growth phase. You can grow hair and expect a full recovery in about 6-12 months.

Can Emotional Stress Cause Hair Loss

Ever heard phrases related to hair falling out in reference to someone being really stressed? It turns out this phrase might be more significantly rooted in science than we originally thought

Many people underestimate the effects of stress on the body, brushing it off as a strictly emotional condition. But stress can manifest in the form of serious physical symptoms including increased shedding or hair loss. If youve experienced some form of emotional or physical stress in the last six months, and youve noticed some increased hair shedding or what looks like the beginning of male pattern baldness, theres a chance you could be experiencing stress-induced hair loss.

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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Stress

First, it is important to understand what causes stress-related hair loss. A lot of the symptoms of stress-related hair loss are the side effects of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is produced in the body in response to stressful situations. Stress can cause both emotional and physical symptoms, some of which may include:

• · Rapid heartbeat

What Questions Might Your Healthcare Provider Ask To Diagnose And Categorize Your Hair Loss

Your healthcare provider might ask about your habits:

• What kinds of hair products do you use?
• What kinds of hair styles do you wear?
• What types of food do you eat ?
• Do you have a habit of pulling your hair out ?

They might ask about your history:

• Has anyone in your immediate family experienced hair loss?
• Is there anything stressful going on in your life?
• What medications and supplements do you take every day?
• Has hair loss ever happened to you before?
• What foods are in your diet?

And, they might ask about your observations:

• How long have you been losing hair?
• Have you been shedding more?
• Have you noticed hair loss in places other than your scalp, like your eyebrows? Leg and arm hair?
• Does anything worsen your hair loss?
• Does anything improve your hair loss?
• Have you noticed hair loss occasionally or has it been going on continuously?
• Have you noticed if your hair growth has changed?
• Has your hair been breaking more often?

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The Connection Between Stress And Hair Loss

Stress affects our bodies on a daily basis, but not all stress is created equal. It’s commonly broken down into acute and chronic stress. Think of acute stress as a specific stressful incident: a car accident, an argument with a friend or even a case of COVID-19. Chronic stress is consistent and continuous, often stemming from an accumulation of micro-stressors. Chronic stress might look like overwhelm from the day-to-day demands of work and family, relationship difficulties, or even a case of long COVID, complications from COVID, or general pressure associated with the ongoing pandemic.

In combination, experiences of acute and chronic stress can have a direct impact on your bodyand your hair follicles. When your stress response ramps up, the body produces cortisol, Dr. Kelly Carter, emergency physician and coach at WanderFonder Health & Wellness, told VEGAMOUR.

Cortisolcommonly known as the “stress hormone”might sound like something to avoid altogether, but its actually an important part of normal metabolism and immune function. When cortisol levels are dysregulated, though, problems start to occur.

Stress can divert resources away from other bodily functions that arent imperative to basic survival. That includes things like hair growth.

In that respect, Hodgdon says, Thinning hair is like an early warning alert system for your health.

See: 9 Ways to Naturally Lower Cortisol Levels

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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.

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.

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How Long Does Stress

Its difficult to indicate an exact amount of time without an actual medical examination through which you can determine exactly why your hair has been falling out and how to treat it.

In the case of trichotillomania, hair can begin regrowing as soon as the hair-pulling stops. But for the other two conditions mainly caused by emotional stress, hair may start growing after going through some kind of treatment.

Its safe to assume, however, that while the hair loss itself wont last long, it will take at least several months until you start noticing any significant changes. After all, it takes unaffected hair around three years to complete the active growing phase.

What Can I Do About Traction Alopecia

To protect your hair from traction alopecia and prevent further damage:

• Ask your stylist to create looser braids or dreadlocks.
• If you have braids, remove them after three months.
• If you wear a weave or hair extensions, remove them after eight weeks.
• If you have relaxed or dyed hair, make sure these treatments are applied by a professional. If you still notice breakage or hair shedding, avoid chemical treatments completely.
• Minimize heat styling, including hair dryers, flat irons and curling irons. These wear out the hair and can lead to major hair loss.

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Is Hair Loss Due To Stress Permanent

Fortunately, stress hair loss is not permanent. In the case of telogen effluvium, your hair should start to grow back after 3-6 months. During this time, you have to remain patient as the hair will follow the natural growth cycle.

Trichotillomania should also not cause permanent hair loss. However, if its done for a very long time, you can expect irreversible damage to occur. Alopecia areata also usually results in temporary loss of hair.

Hair Loss From Stress Vs Male Pattern Baldness

There are several major differences between telogen effluvium and hair loss from male pattern baldness:

• First, hair loss from male pattern baldness is typically permanent. In contrast, almost all of the hair you lose from telogen effluvium will grow back, provided the primary cause of the telogen effluvium is treated.

• Second, hair loss from male pattern baldness looks different from hair loss thats triggered by stress. Male pattern baldness typically causes a receding hairline, balding on the crown or other baldness patterns. Telogen effluvium causes diffuse thinning on the entire scalp.

• Third, telogen effluvium is not related to androgen hormones such as DHT. This means that some treatments for male pattern baldness, such as finasteride, arent effective as treatments for stress-related hair loss.

• Fifth, If your hair loss is caused by stress, you may also lose body hair. Telogen effluvium hair loss the type of hair loss linked to stress typically affects your scalp and may appear as patchy hair loss. However, it can also cause you to shed more body hairor notice less hair on your body than you normally would.

If youre starting to lose your hair and arent sure whether its caused by stress or male pattern baldness, its best to talk to a healthcare professional.

Most dermatologists can diagnose telogen effluvium using one or several tests, including a hair pull test.

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Is There A Way To Prevent Hair Loss Caused By Stress

Now that weve explored the link between stress and hair loss and how to regain hair loss from stress, youre probably wondering how to prevent stress-related hair loss.

The most important thing is to learn effective stress management techniques to help you to reduce your stress levels. Proper stress management can help reduce some of the strain and prevent hair loss due to stress.

Since its thought that stress may affect the hair follicles ability to function properly, another way to prevent hair loss caused by stress could be to use products that support a healthy scalp such as:

What Are The Earliest Symptoms Of Telogen Effluvium

It is perfectly normal to lose up to 100 hairs per day. In telogen effluvium, people may lose closer to 300 hairs per day, and this can continue over the course of several months. You may notice that more hair falls out while brushing or when washing your hair in the shower. You may also notice thinning of your hair.

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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.

Why Is My Hair Thinning At Age 20

Few things can shake your social and emotional confidence like when you begin losing your hair at an early age. You worry if youll develop a see-through hairline like your Aunt Marge or go completely bald like your dad. Factors like female pattern baldness, certain medical conditions, stress or even how you style your hair could be the culprit of hair thinning at 20.

Although there are plenty of reasons you may lose hair at this early age, there is hope. Read on to find out more plus, what products you should use to combat thinning hair ASAP.

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