Noticed more hairs on your brush, pillow or around the shower drain than normal? Dealing with hair loss is never fun, especially when you’re not sure what’s causing it. Show
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, it’s also possible for a range of other factors to cause and contribute to hair loss. One of these factors is emotional stress. If you’re feeling overly stressed due to work, your personal life or anything else, it’s possible that this stress could contribute either to mild hair thinning, or significant hair loss. Below, we’ve explained how and why stress can cause you to lose hair. We’ve also looked at a range of treatment options that can help you regrow any hair you lose due to stress. Stress and Hair Loss: The BasicsContrary 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. However, stress can trigger and potentially worsen a form of temporary hair loss called telogen effluvium. Note that telogen effluvium is different from androgenetic alopecia. 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:
Just like your skin and nails, your hair is constantly undergoing this growth cycle. We’ve 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. Telogen effluvium affects your hair follicles in the telogen phase. Normally, about five percent to 10 percent of your hairs are in the telogen phase at any one time. With telogen effluvium, as much as 30 percent of your hair can suddenly enter the telogen phase, resulting in hair shedding. buy finasteride more hair... there's a pill for thatCommon Symptoms of Stress-Related Hair LossIf you’re experiencing hair loss due to stress, you’ll usually notice the classic symptoms of hair loss:
Hair loss is often subtle, meaning you might not notice it day to day until you look at yourself in a mirror or see your hair in a photograph. If you’re worried that you might have hair loss due to stress, it may help to take regular photos of your hair to track any changes in thickness over time. You can also try counting the hairs that you lose. It’s normal to lose about 100 hairs per day. If you have telogen effluvium, you may lose an average of about 300, making it easy to detect a change in your hair shedding. Types of Stress Related Hair LossThere are many forms of hair loss related to stress. If you notice your hair falling out after a traumatic event, surgery, or change in medicine, you could be experiencing one of the following types of stress hair loss. Telogen EffluviumTelogen effluvium is a form of temporary hair loss that’s related to shocking events or changes to the body. It can occur after surgery or major physical trauma, during periods of illness, or at times when you feel extremely stressed due to a specific event. Although the exact prevalence of telogen effluvium isn’t known, it’s generally considered to be quite a common form of hair loss. Hair loss from telogen effluvium isn’t immediate, meaning you usually won’t start to lose hair right after a traumatic or stressful event. Hair loss from telogen effluvium usually begins approximately three months after a stressful or traumatic event. It’s often quite abrupt and can involve sudden, significant hair shedding that seemingly comes without any warning. Hair loss from telogen effluvium can last for several months. Telogen effluvium can potentially be caused by physiological and psychological stress. Some of the common causes of telogen effluvium include:
TrichotillomaniaTrichotillomania, or hair-pulling disorder, is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder in which a person repeatedly pulls out their own hair, causing thinning and hair loss. Although trichotillomania isn’t directly caused by stress, many people with trichotillomania find that stressful situations are a common trigger for their hair-pulling behavior. Others note that pulling their hair helps them to relax when they’re feeling stressed. Hair Loss From Stress vs. Male Pattern BaldnessThere are several major differences between telogen effluvium (hair loss potentially triggered by stress) and hair loss from male pattern baldness:
If you’re starting to lose your hair and aren’t sure whether it’s caused by stress or male pattern baldness, it’s best to talk to a healthcare professional. Most dermatologists can diagnose telogen effluvium using one or several tests, including a hair pull test. How to Treat Stress-Induced Hair LossBecause telogen effluvium has a variety of potential causes, there’s no one hair loss treatment that works for everyone. If your hair loss is caused by a one-off stressful or traumatic event, such as a physical accident, surgery or psychologically stressful event, your hair will typically grow back on its own over the course of several months. MedicationsBecause hair loss from stress isn’t directly caused by the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), medications like finasteride, which works by blocking the production of DHT, aren’t effective at stopping or reversing this type of hair loss. Most of the time, any hair that you lose due to stress will grow back over time. If your hair isn’t growing quick enough or it hasn’t grown back fully, your healthcare provider may prescribe medication such as minoxidil (commonly sold as Rogaine®) to speed up and improve your hair growth. Minoxidil works by increasing the blood supply to your hair follicles and prompting your hair to enter the anagen, or growth, phase of its cycle. Studies have found that it’s highly effective at promoting hair growth, although it can often take several months to see results. Habits and Lifestyle ChangesChanging 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 you’ve lost. This is something that you’ll need to discuss with your healthcare provider. finasteride online new hair or your money backThe Final Word on Stress Hair LossIt’s normal to experience some level of stress in life. An occasional stressful day or a bad week might make you feel unhappy, but it generally won’t have any effect on your hairline. However, chronic stress or severe stress caused by physiological or psychological trauma may cause you to temporarily lose some or all of your hair. If this happens to you, the best approach is to talk to your healthcare provider and treat the underlying cause of the stress. Over time, it’s normal for hair loss from stress to grow back naturally. If you’re noticing your stress causes chronic hair loss, hair loss treatments such as minoxidil may be helpful. 9 Sources
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here. How long does hair loss from stress take to come back?The hair loss is temporary, and should return to its pre-effluvium density, although this process is generally slow. It can take months (but generally less than 6) before the shedding stops, and then months to years for lost hair to grow back at the sluggish rate of ~½ inch per month.
How can I regain my hair loss from stress?How to Regain Hair Loss from Stress: 8 Effective Methods. Eat a healthy diet. Eating a proper diet is healthy for your body and your hair. ... . Take a Supplement. ... . Try a Topical Treatment. ... . Get Enough Sleep. ... . Manage Stress. ... . Boost Root Volume. ... . Massage Your Scalp. ... . Use a Hair Growth Shampoo.. Can you permanently lose hair from stress?Can hair loss be related to stress? The bad news is yes, but the good news is that stress-induced hair loss is usually temporary. “Telogen effluvium is the scientific name for stress-induced hair loss,” Robert Haber, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and hair transplant surgeon, tells WebMD Connect to Care.
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