Stress and Hair Loss

by Sheron Hopkins

The average scalp contains about 100,000 strands of hair.

Of these, a typical individual loses approximately 100 strands of hair every day. Hairs are lost everyday due to several factors. Hairs have an average lifespan of about 4-5 years, after which, they fall out. Also, the daily wear and tear that the hair experiences from various factors, such as brushing and blowdrying, can lead to hair loss.

However, if you appear to be losing more than 100 strands of hair every day, consider other causes of hair loss.

Heredity and age are major factors in hair loss. Other factors include hormones and the habit of pulling the hair out.

Of all the causes of hair loss, stress is the most easily minimized. Studies have shown that stress and hair loss are indeed correlated. Severe stress, both physically and emotionally, can lead to loss of hair. Stresses can be anything, such as employment problems, illnesses and pregnancy. Actually, approximately 45% of pregnant women have some hair loss due to stress.

There are basically two types of hair loss associated with stress, namely telogen effluvium and alopecia areata. Telogen effluvium is more common. With this type of hair loss, the approximately 70% of the individual’s hair enters the telogen phase, also known as the resting phase, of the hair’s growth cycle. The hair stays stops growing and falls out after about 2-3 months. This delay in the hair loss occasionally makes it difficult to determine the exact cause of the hair loss. The hair usually grows back anywhere from 6 months to 9 months after.

Alopecia areata is the more severe type of hair loss that has been associated with stress. Although it has not been fully proven, a certain percentage of alopecia areata patients have been shown to be associated with some major life stress prior to the development of the condition. Hair from anywhere in the body, such as the scalp, typically falls out in patches. Some patients spontaneously re-grow the hair that they lost; others, however, remain bald for life.

If you suddenly notice that you have begun losing more hair than you normally do, or if you notice that your hair is thinning out abnormally, it is best to consult a dermatologist. The patient may have to undergo certain examinations, such as thyroid function tests, to rule out other diseases as cause of the hair loss.

Overall, too much stress is bad for you hair. Not only does it cause loss of hair, it can also make your hair dull and dry. This is especially true when stress has already affected the other areas of your life, such as eating and sleeping. Aside from these, stress is also detrimental to the body.

If the reason for the hair loss is truly stress, stress relief is the treatment. Patients should learn and utilize various stress reduction techniques. Deep breathing exercises are important for the patient to employ every time he or she experiences any form of stress. Other coping techniques include meditation, massage, and aromatherapy, among others.

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