Female Hair Loss and Stress

There are several causes of hair loss, from unhealthy diet to poor hair care regimen and from hormonal imbalance to different ailments and treatments. Every cause leads to a different type of hair loss. One of the most common types of hair loss is Telogen Effluvium – hair shedding caused by physical or emotional stress.

One of the ancient myths is that “stress can make you go gray”. But studies have shown that stress and anxiety have nothing to do with melanocytes – the cells responsible for producing melanin, a natural pigment that adds color to your skin and hair. However, extended periods of physical or emotional stress can force your active hair follicles undergo resting phase – the Telogen phase. Within a few months, the affected hairs may fall out for no apparent reason.

Other two types of hair loss that can be associated with stress include:

• Trichotillomania
• Alopecia Areata

Trichotillomania:

It is a compulsive disorder characterized by irresistible urge to pull out hairs from the head, eyebrows, and eyelashes, and in rare case other areas of the body as well. This damages roots of the hairs, ultimately causing hair shedding. This hair pulling can be a way of dealing with stress and anxiety.

Alopecia Areata:

It is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system of a person’s body starts attacking his/her hair follicles. A variety of factors are associated with this type of hair loss and an extended period of severe stress is one of them.

Stress related hair loss is never instant:

Stress related hair loss starts several months after you have experienced a traumatic situation. So, if you notice sudden hair loss when combing or washing your hair, think for a while of any traumatic situation that you might have undergone over the last few months. This can include anything from bankruptcy to breakup to bereavement. If you have really experienced any such situation, hair loss could be an after effect of that incident. But don’t forget to consult a trichologist, as sudden hair loss can be an indication of some underlying medical condition.

Stress related hair loss is temporary:

The good news is that stress and accompanied hair loss don’t have to be permanent. Managing stress can help get hair loss under control. Not only hair loss will stop, but you will also start growing new hairs without any special treatment. However, if not diagnosed and addressed in time, this temporary hair loss can become permanent. So, be very careful about stress related hair loss.

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