Stress affects the healthy well-being of an individual in several ways. Long-term stress can lead to anxiety and depression. The problems caused by stress do not end with mental issues, but affect the physical health by causing digestive and sleep disorders. Even though these issues are often addressed, hair loss is a common problem caused by stress which is mostly overlooked.
Long-term stress can cause different types of hair loss. While some of them are curable, there are irreversible hair loss caused by stress. This article is all about stress-related hair loss. It elaborates on the different types of stress-based hair loss and their treatment. Some tips to reduce stress will also be listed in this article.
Overview of Stress-related hair loss
Stress-related hair loss is now a common issue among people of all ages. Often overlooked and unnoticed, this condition provides specific symptoms that differentiate such hair loss from others. Two out of three different types of stress-based hair loss are reversible and curable.
Hair growth and loss are also systemic processes that have different stages. Anagen or growth is the active stage in hair growth. During this phase, hair follicles divide rapidly leading to hair growth. The next is the resting phase or catagen. In this transition stage, hair growth slows down and takes a break. Next is the telogen or shedding stage. In this phase, the hair follicles will be inactive and the root of the hair will have a white bulb of keratin on it, causing hair to shed.
It is during the final phase that hair loss affects an individual. When stress or trauma triggers a person and lasts for more than 2 or 3 months, it will cause heavy hair fall in them. However, the nature and results of this hair loss depend on its type.
Types of Stress-related hair loss
As mentioned, stress is one of the major reasons behind hair loss. This stress-related hair loss can also be categorized into three. The classifications and other details of each type of hair loss caused by stress are listed below.
- Telogen effluvium
Telogen effluvium is a variant of hair loss caused by stress, trauma, or shock. Under this condition, the hair from the top of the scalp will be lost in large amounts. This happens because the stress pushes the hair follicles into a resting phase. However, this condition is temporary and can be reversed.
- Alopecia areata
This is a common type of caused by severe stress. Areata means patchy and alopecia means hair loss. So, as the name suggests, people with this condition will experience patchy hair loss. Here, the stress affects the immune system, leading to heavy hair loss. However, similar to telogen effluvium, this condition is reversible and curable.
- Trichotillomania
Unlike the other two conditions, trichotillomania is a hair-pulling disorder. Under this condition, people will have an urge to pull out hair from their scalp, eyebrows, and other body parts. This is normally caused by overstress or anxiety. Even though people try to control the urge to pull out hair, it becomes a method to cope with stress. This condition can be irreversible and permanent if it continues for a longer duration.
Treatment For Stress-related hair loss
Most stress-related hair losses are curable. Proper treatment helps to reduce hair fall and increase the growth of healthy hair. Some of the common treatment options for stress-related hair fall include proper diet, regular exercise, maintaining stress management, and using topical treatments. The details of each method are as follows:
- Healthy diet
Including a healthy and balanced diet with nutrition-rich foods is essential to reduce hair fall and improve overall hair health. While most vitamins and minerals are important for health, certain vitamins have the upper hand in supporting hair growth. Some of them include vitamin C, vitamin B, and vitamin E. Along with a balanced diet, hydration is also important. Every individual needs at least 8 glasses of water a day. So, maintaining a healthy diet and hydration is the first and most important method in treating hair fall.
- Stress management
Stress, being the root cause of hair fall, should be addressed to eliminate this kind of hair fall. Stress management is subjective as each individual uses different methods to reduce and cope with a stressful situation. However, some common stress-management techniques are exercise, indulging in hobbies, writing down feelings, and breathing exercises.
- Topical treatments
Several topical creams, hair oils, medications, and other products are available in the market, that help reduce hair fall. Topical minoxidil is one common over-the-counter medication available as a cream, spray, or foam that enhances hair growth. Topical corticosteroids like prednisone and castor oil are the products for hair growth.
Also Read: Does Phentermine Cause Hair Loss? Get The Facts Straight!
Tips To Manage Stress
Learning different techniques that will help reduce stress levels has a crucial role in the physical and mental health of an individual. Some of them are:
- Exercise and workouts including stretches and muscle relaxation
- Breathing exercise and meditation
- Eating healthy
- Taking time for hobbies and interests
- Slowing down on yourself
- Taking a break if needed
- Having open conversation
Final Thoughts
Stress is a major reason behind hair loss in most people regardless of age and gender. Depending on several factors including the manner and the area of hair loss, it can be divided into three categories, namely, telogen effluvium, alopecia areata, and trichotillomania. While during telogen effluvium, the inactive hair follicles cause hair loss, alopecia areata is caused by the effect of stress on the immune system.
Unlike the first two, trichotillomania is a disorder where an individual pulls out their hair due to stress, known as stress-related hair loss in simpler words. The first two types of hair loss are reversible, while the last is mostly irreversible. The major treatment options for stress-based hair loss are maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise, stress management, and topical products. As caused by stress, stress management is very crucial in overcoming these situations.
FAQs
Apart from stress hair loss can also be caused by genetic issues, hormonal changes, side effects of medications, and radiation therapy.
Yes. In most cases stress-related hair loss is temporary. People notice improvement in hair loss and growth by controlling their stress levels.
Stress-related hair loss can be controlled and reversed through various treatments. However, it takes around three to six months to recover without treatments.
There are several methods to reduce hair fall caused by stress. The most important among them is maintaining a healthy diet and regular sleep. Other methods are taking medications, and using natural and effective shampoos and conditioners.
The symptoms like hair thinning, especially around the top of the head help distinguish stress-related hair loss from other types of hair loss.
