Do you feel like being stuck at home is taking a toll on your hair? You may think that’s far-fetched and that’s your anxiety talking; but actually, it’s not. Stress has been a well-documented cause of hair loss and spending a long time in quarantine could spike up your stress level. Here are common stress-related hair conditions you need to be mindful of.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune skin disease, which affects approximately 6.8 million people in the US alone. This condition occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy hair follicles, causing patches of hair loss in the scalp or other parts of the body.
This condition affects both men and women. And while there is no known cure for alopecia areata, there are treatment options to help mitigate the effects of this condition.
Telogen Effluvium
This condition is characterized by an increase in shedding of hair for more than six months. When a person goes through severe stress or trauma, this could disrupt the normal hair cycle. The growth phase of the hair slows down and more hair follicles go into the resting phase (telogen), causing excessive hair loss.
Telogen effluvium is more common in women. And while people suffering from this condition will not lose their crowning glory, a significant amount of hair strands will shed, which is very evident when they brush their hair or when they take a shower.
Trichotillomania
An impulse control disorder, trichotillomania involves excessive pulling of hair. People who suffer from this disorder pull their hair without much thought when they’re bored, stressed, or distracted. Some people suffer from a mild and manageable form of this condition while others may feel a very overwhelming urge to pull their hair from the scalp and other parts of the body like eyebrows and eyelashes.
People who have trichotillomania may also exhibit other compulsive behaviors like nail-biting or lip-chewing. This condition mostly develops during pre-teens and genetics can also predispose an individual to this disorder.
What To Do When You’re Losing Hair During Quarantine
Fortunately, hair loss due to stress is not a permanent thing. You’ll most likely grow your hair back to its pristine glory when you manage your stress through a healthy diet (vitamins C, B, and E are vital nutrients to hair growth) and stress-management techniques like exercise, proper breathing, and meditation.
Being holed up under quarantine can be very stressful. To combat stress, it helps to take good care of your health and cultivate a new hobby to while away the time and take your mind off the things that are causing your anxiety.
If you’re struggling with hair loss, Custom Hair offers the finest quality in non-surgical hair replacement solutions. Our specialists will help you customize a hair replacement solution that matches your lifestyle. To schedule an appointment please click here.
Photo Credit: Engin_Akyurt Via Pixabay
Sources:
https://www.naaf.org/alopecia-areata
https://www.healthline.com/health/stress/stress-hair-loss
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321590