We’ve all heard the myth that stress causes hair loss—but is that myth actually true? Research has showed that stress can, indeed, induce hair loss. Here are some reasons why stress can cause you to lose your hair and what you can do to stop it.
Your Hair Follicles Shift to the Telogen Phase
Hair growth has two phases—the growth phase, anagen, or the rest phase, telogen. A sudden increase in stress can cause all of your hair follicles to shift into the telogen phase at once, causing shedding of hair instead of growth.
You’re Picking or Pulling at Your Hair
Some people experience a disorder called trichotillomania. This hair-pulling syndrome manifests when people pull on their own hairs when they feel stressed or anxious. Trichotillomania can worsen during stressful periods and result in noticeable hair loss.
Your Hormones are Out Of Whack
When you are experiencing chronic stress, it can affect the hormones in your body. If your hormones are out of whack, you can experience significant hair loss. Luckily, this type of hair loss will abate if you are able to reduce the amount of stress that regularly occurs in your life, and there are different tactics that can help reduce chronic stress, increase your sleep, and balance your hormones, like psychotherapy, meditation, and exercise.
You Are Not Sleeping Enough
Research has shown that insufficient amounts of sleep can lead directly to hair loss—and stress is a direct cause of lack of sleep. By increasing the amount of sleep you’re able to get by decreasing lifestyle stress, you can ensure that you don’t experience unnecessary hair thinning or loss.
You Are on Medication to Help You Deal With Stress
Sometimes, you need to take medication to help you deal with the effects of stress in your life—and that is completely normal! However, sometimes the side effects of medication like antidepressants, which can decrease anxiety and the unpleasant feelings that come with stress, can include hair loss or hair thinning. If you are taking medication for a particularly tough time of life, don’t be surprised if you experience some hair loss—the loss usually slows over time or stops completely once you no longer need the medication. Speak to your doctor about your medication needs and how to mitigate their side effects.
If you’re struggling with hair loss, we encourage you to make an appointment to visit with a Genesis II hair loss specialist who will work one-on-one with you to address all your hair concerns. Your consultation is free, and there is no obligation whatsoever. Call us at (315) 458-1074 or to contact us via email click here.
Photo Credit: Peggy_Marco Via Pixabay
