Stress-induced hair loss is something I’m sure you’ve heard of before, most likely from your parents or guardians. We are all told at some point that as children, teenagers, and sometimes even adults that we’re the reason our parents are losing their hair! But how true is this?
The fact if the matter is that losing hair due to stress is relative unlikely, but still possible. Both physical and emotional stresses take a huge toll on our body and its functioning, and there is no reason why this wouldn’t also extend to hair growth and health.
However, in many cases losing hair because of stress will stop once the stress is removed. This process can take a while as hair cycles are long, so you should expect it to take a few months to a year for your condition to reverse.
Despite this, there are things you can do to potentially reduce stress and help this process. We’ve created this helpful guide to show you how to do it!
The fact is that stress can affect a lot of bodily functions, and not just hair loss. Stress causes our body to work improperly, impacting our health.
In the case of thinning hair, our hair follicles get less nourishment as blood flows to your scalp less consistently and evenly. New hair that would grow out will be less healthy and you may even start to have hair stop growing in some spots.
It is important to note that hormones can play a role in hair growth and development and any problems could be due to a hormone imbalance. It is alway smart to consult a medical professional about the sources of your hair woes before taking action.
Although thinning hair from stress is possible and does occur, it is not as common as you might think. In most cases, there is a different cause for hair problems, and you should consult a professional before taking actions against stress-induced issues.
It is most common for hair to grow back once the stress is removed. It should do so on its own without any treatment. A healthy, balanced lifestyle including diet and exercise can help with this immensely too.
If you are experiencing hair loss because of stress, you should try to eliminate the stress rather than seek other means of treatment.
Ultimately, removing the stressors causing this type of hair loss is the best way to solve the problem. In many cases, stress may be leading to or causing other issues as well, so eliminating stress will help to combat the problem directly.
Hair does not grow back immediately, and these problems will usually sort themselves out. If you do experience hair problems because of stress, once the stress is removed your hair should grow back within a few months. It takes time and you may not see it happening, but it should grow back over time as you remove the cause of stress.
There are three main types of stress-related hair issues based on the how the problems occur.
The first and most common form is telogen effluvium, which prohibits hairs from growing more. Affected hair follicles may fall out after several months.
The second is alopecia areata, which is when the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles and causes them to fall out. The third is trichotillomania, which is when the person pulls hair out due to various causes; this form is typically associated with stress or anxiety.
It is important to consult a medical professional before taking action. Determining which type of hair issue you are experiencing is the first step in solving the problem.
It is important to note that in many cases, there are other factors besides stress that may be affecting your loss of hair, and you should consider other sources. Failing to get a diagnosis could mean that a more serious problem will go missed.
Hair loss could even be a symptom of a more serious disease or illness, so consulting a doctor or professional about the issue is always a good idea, even if you think it is induced by stress.
There are a number of things you can do to reduce stress that causes hair loss in your everyday life that should result in progressive improvement. Here are our tips for preventing and counteracting hair loss.
Physical and mental stress can both be caused by not getting enough sleep. This is especially true if this is a long-term issue, as it will begin to affect you more and more over time.
Ensuring you follow a regular sleep pattern can help you get into a good rhythm and provide you with adequate rest. Make sure you relax before bed so you get a good sleep and feel refreshed. By fixing your sleeping routines you can greatly improve your overall health and reduce stress, which in turn can help counteract hair loss.
Stress is also greatly affected by your energy levels, which has much to do with your diet. By eating healthily and getting the nutrients you need, you make sure you give your body enough energy to function properly.
Denying your body the full nutrients it needs can affect your health and cause stress. Altering your diet and making sure you eat healthy is a good way to reduce stress and can reduce your hair loss.
What you eat is very important as well. Eating sugary and sweet foods, deep-fried foods that are high in trans fats, and a lot of fatty proteins all impact your hair’s health, since you are not getting good nutrients for healthy hair growth.
Ensuring you eat healthy foods like vegetables, lean proteins, and large amounts of healthy vitamins will help ensure you stay healthy and have low stress.
You should give up things like coffee, soda, energy drinks, and alcohol and quit smoking. Eat fruits and vegetables regularly and eat lots of grains.
Exercising keeps your body physically fit and in shape, which not only improves your physical health, but your mental health and overall mood as well. Exercise simply makes us feel better, much better.
By making sure you get regular and consistent exercise, you will keep your body feeling better and keep your attitude up as well. This will greatly help with how you feel and how stressed you feel, which in turn can help decrease the effects of hair loss.
Rest and relaxation can often have similar effects as exercise in terms of stress relief. Try relaxing before bed, meditating, yoga, or some other calming and soothing activity for you. Maybe reading a book in the bath or winding down with a television show before bed. Whatever it is you do to relax and rejuvenate, give it a try.
Relaxing and avoiding stressful situations can help your mood and stress levels, giving you a chance to remain calm. Relaxing calms the muscles and releases tension, helping reduce your stress. By making sure you take time for yourself you can greatly reduce your stress levels and improve overall health, which in turn can prevent hair problems.
It is important to remember that hair issues are actually rarely caused solely by stress. Although stress can be a contributing factor, is almost never the only factor. When you think you are experiencing stress-induced problems, you should try to think of other potential sources.
Vitamin B is a great source of nutrients and supports healthy hair growth. By adding or increasing your intake of B vitamins, you may be able to help combat any hair problems. Cutting back on A vitamins may also help.
If you try some of these tips you’ll see improvements in the health and fullness of your hair. Remember that hair growth takes time and that there are many causes that are more likely than stress for hair problems.
The best way to prevent hair loss due to stress is to try to reduce stress is by being healthy, eating a good diet, exercising regularly, and making sure you take time to relax and distress.
