Stress Related Hair Loss

How does stress affect hair loss?

Stress related hair loss: It is normal to lose about 100 hairs a day.

Stress sometimes causes premature aging of the body which includes graying of the hair or hair loss. However, you can prevent premature aging by implementing an effective stress management routine and balance your Eustress and Distress levels to maintain a healthy mind and body.

With high or prolonged stress levels your hair will look dry, frizzy and without much life or natural bounce. A wellness lifestyle will give your hair a boost making it look healthy and shiny.

Stress and hair loss. Yes, its true that stressors can cause hair loss. Chronic, prolonged or excessive emotional and physical stress can cause two types of hair loss.

Telogen effluvium is the name for one type of hair loss due to stress. Hair stops growing and the normal hair growth cycle stops. This can happen due to a number of circumstances including severe stress, chemotherapy, pregnancy, child birth, hormonal stress, medications and surgery. After approximately three months, hair will start to fall out, but in most cases will grow back again a few months later. Chronic telogen effluvium persists for a longer period of time with a larger hair growth.

Alopecia areata is another type of stress-induced hair loss. It is characterized by patches of hair loss which can lead to complete hair loss. With most people hair loss will grow back within a few months to a year. The causes are not clear, but it is suggested that in some cases it could be due to hereditary factors, certain medications, psychological stress or emotional stress.

When our bodies experience extreme emotional or physical stress the immune system is not functioning to its fullest. Major systems such as the digestive and nervous system are ignored as the body pumps blood to the major muscles preparing it for ‘fight or flight’.

Physical symptoms of stress may include being vulnerable to disease and illness, feeling low in energy and irritable, heart disorders, and stress related hair loss.

Stressors which may cause hair loss are: severe illness, pregnancy, surgery, chemotherapy, psychological distress, mental stress, emotional stress, prolonged work place stress, anxiety, depression, chemical treatments, hair dyes.

Stressful life events and their levels of impact on our ability to handle them are important to consider in relation to hair loss or other physical and emotional symptoms. Research has shown that people with high levels of anxiety and depression are more vulnerable to experiencing hair loss. Emotional stress has an impact on the health of our hair and is related to hair loss.

Stress and hair loss: There are different reasons why you might be experiencing hair loss. Its important to speak with a health physician to determine the cause.

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