Did you know that an average person drops between 50 to 100 hair strands every day? Both emotional and physical stress forces the hair follicles to rest, leading to a significant hair loss.
Although several factors lead to loss of hair, stress, and anxiety are the primary causes. They lead to a complete shutdown of hair follicles, and its effects are felt 3 months after. This abstract outlines how stress leads to hair loss.
Can Stress Cause Hair Loss?
Trauma, shock to the body, and stress are common factors that contribute to Telogen effluvium. These factors disrupt the natural rest cycle and growth of hair hence leading to hair loss. Normally, 80 to 90% of hair follicles in a human scalp grow actively. Only 10 or 20% remains in a resting phase.
Hair falls out in clumps after brushing, washing or have your locks styled.
Why can Stress Make Your Hair Fall Out?
Anxiety or stress makes your body to produce a flight or fight response. As such, the body produces more hormones as preparations for dealing with potential threats. Its effects are felt more when they start affecting the hair follicles growth pattern on the scalp.
However, the resting stage effect on the hair follicles is not permanent. The hair growth pattern returns to normalcy some months later, after your anxiety or stress levels are managed.
Different Types of Stress-Related Hair Loss
Hair loss conditions arising from stress are classified differently. They include;
Alopecia areata: This occurs when you start losing big hair clumps forming patches on your scalp.
Telogen effluvium: Hair follicles go on a resting mode preventing further growth leaving your scalp exposed.
Trichotillomania: This refers to the loss of hair that occurs when you pull out or pick hair from your head unknowingly.
How Do You Treat Stress Related Hair Loss?
Stress management is key to the treatment of this condition. Several techniques may help you overcome this vice. They include;
Exercise: take light walks daily, do some light activities or join dancing classes
Hobbies: Join social activities that bring happiness out of you. Enjoying these activities with different people will help you reduce stress.
Observe diet: take healthy foods to have a balanced diet.
You don’t have to lose your hair anymore due to stress. The above measures will help you stop stress-related hair loss. If you’ve already begun to experience hair loss, Custom Hair Tampa Bay can help you get your hair back. To schedule a free consultation at one of our three locations click here.
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