Hair Loss Due to Stress?

Our hair grows in a cycle of growth, rest, shedding, and regrowth. We shed around 80 to 100 hairs daily in a healthy hair growth cycle. This cycle can be disrupted if some stress causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state, known as telogen effluvium. The more common name for this is stress- or trauma-related hair loss, recognized when the body sheds significantly more than 80 to 100 hairs daily.

Does All Stress Cause Hair Loss?

Telogen effluvium’s main symptom is excessive hair shedding, usually triggered by stress. We all have some degree of stress in our daily lives; however, stress outside the norm of the everyday stressors can cause excess hair loss. Examples include the death of a loved one or undergoing surgery with anesthesia.

Stress can be a constant factor in some people’s lives, turning telogen effluvium from an isolated incident into a chronic condition. Some, like firefighters, may experience constant stress from their occupation, while others experience constant stress from anxiety, depression, or insomnia.

Other factors that can contribute to excessive hair shedding include improperly caring for your scalp and hair, medications you may be taking, or internal factors like hormones or thyroid function.

Will Hair Grow Back From Stress-Related Loss?

When an individual experiences hair loss due to stress, they do not recognize the problem right away. Instead, they notice excessive shedding around 3-6 months after. In some cases, hair can return to its normal growth cycle. In other cases, hair can begin to diffuse, growing in thinner, or become dormant.

Ultimately, hair can only grow when there is a root. If that root has been lost due to stress, hair can no longer grow.

How To Treat Hair Loss Associated with Stress?

Excessive hair shedding itself can be stressful. If not treated, it can create a perpetual cycle of stress-related hair loss. Those experiencing hair loss must maintain a healthy scalp to help PREVENT or lessen the internal effects of stress on the hair.

If you are currently experiencing excessive shedding, our trichologists take a multi-therapy approach to CORRECT stress-related hair loss. They first discover the health of your scalp and hair. Then, they create a protocol designed to inhibit the metabolic processes in your body causing excessive hair shedding, while providing antioxidant-rich treatments to fight hair loss.

Answer a few quick questions so we can help you determine your next step to finding a solution.