Do you know that your constant stress can cause hair loss? It has been found through research that there is a close association between hair loss and stress. Although there are a few causes for hair loss, stress is also one of them. Many people complain about excessive hair loss when they are going through stressful situations. It is because the stress hormones in your body negatively impact the health of the hair and make it fall out.
Type of Hair Loss Caused by Stress
Stress doesn’t affect everyone’s hair. Different people suffer through different types of hair loss based on their stress levels. Usually, extreme stress causes the following three types of hair loss:
Alopecia areata
This type of stress-related hair loss is linked with issues with your immune system. When your immune system is not working properly, it may affect the soft follicles of your hair roots. As a result, your hair starts falling rapidly, either from the whole scalp or in patches. In more severe cases, the hair falls off from all over the body, but the good thing is that they grow back. The studies say that stress is the core reason behind this type of hair loss and millions of people suffer through it every year.
Telogen effluvium
This stress-related hair loss occurs when the number of hair follicles that are growing hair start to change. In many cases, the thinning of the hair starts when a person is under extreme stress. Hair loss occurs in patches, mainly at the center of the scalp. In this case, a person doesn’t get bald all over his scalp; only at the center. However, the hair may or may not regrow in this condition. The thinning of hair at other parts of the body, such as genitals, is also possible.
Trichotillomania
This type of hair loss is unusual as it involves a stressed person pulling his hair himself. A person does this due to stress and has no control over his hair pulling act.
Is Stress-related Hair Loss Reversible?
Fortunately, stress-related hair loss often is reversible. In the majority of the cases, the hair regrows once the stressful period is over. However, there are cases when a person faces an issue with the hair regrowth. If you are losing your hair due to stress and your hair is not growing again, then you must go for the treatments. For this purpose, it is best to get medical advice first and then choose the appropriate treatment.
Keep in mind that if your hair loss is due to aging or any other genetic factor, it may not reverse. In such situations, your stress levels may not be the cause of hair loss but rather other factors. Therefore, make sure to get a proper examination for your hair loss before you start any treatments or therapies.
How to Avoid Hair Loss Due to Stress
The good news is that you can effectively control your stress-related hair loss in the following ways:
Stress management strategies
To control or avoid hair loss, stress management is critically important. If you fail to manage your stress, it means that you fail to stop your hair loss and other health issues. There are many effective and useful stress management techniques that you can adopt to stop hair loss. For example, consider doing a morning walk on lush green grass with bare feet to relieve your stress. Similarly, try yoga and meditation to reduce your stress level. These stress management approaches are famous for their magical results and help you defeat your stress-related hair loss.
A nutritious and healthy diet
Without taking care of your diet, you can’t manage your stress or stop your hair loss. A healthy and nutritious diet is the most important thing that can help you on this journey. For example, you must eat a large number of fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, nuts and grains, and plenty of water. All of these are healthy foods that would not only improve your mental health but also aid in nourishing and strengthening your hair.
Oiling, massaging, and care for hair
It’s a proven fact that frequent oiling and head massage does wonder in relieving stress and hair loss. Make sure to do oiling and massaging at least two times a week. It will improve the blood circulation in the roots of your hair and supplement them with more nutrients and oxygen. As a result, your hair won’t fall off as it had been before. Also wash your hair at least 2-3 times a week with a sulfate-free shampoo for their better health and strength.
Exercise and sleep
Neglecting physical activity and proper sleep are also the causes of prolonged stress and hair loss. To reduce your stress and hair loss, start any exercise for at least 30 minutes each day. Along with it make sure to focus on a proper sleep schedule and stick to it. Both of these things would dramatically reduce your stress and hair loss.
