Can Stress Cause Hair Loss? Managing the Impact on Your Hair

It’s safe to say that everybody experiences stress at one point or another, but if you find yourself constantly stressed out, this can manifest physically in ways which may not feel directly linked. Chronic stress could be linked to problems sleeping, indigestion, anxiety, and perhaps hair loss.

Let’s look at the impact stress can have on your hair, and ways to manage.

Can Stress Cause Hair Loss?

There is evidence to suggest that you can lose hair as a result of severe stress. If you notice a change in the amount of hair you have been losing, this could be linked to stress.

Most cases of hair loss in men are due to androgenetic alopecia (male pattern hair loss), but hair loss can be caused or worsened by several other lifestyle factors including stress.

Stress can cause a condition called Telogen Effluvium, which is characterised by rapid hair loss. It also be caused by a stressful event to the body, such as childbirth, surgery, or extreme weight loss. This is different from male pattern baldness, which usually occurs gradually over a number of months or years.

Whilst shedding between 50-150 hairs a day is completely normal, part of the regular hair growth cycle, telogen effluvium causes more hairs than usual to enter the shedding phase, leading to an increase in the number of hairs being shed daily. Over the course of weeks or months, this could cause noticeable hair loss.

Hair Treatments for Hair Loss 

Thankfully, telogen effluvium is usually temporary and will resolve without treatment once the trigger is resolved or removed. If your hair loss is linked to chronic stress, it doesn’t mean your hair is gone forever – it is likely to grow back again as usual if you can manage your stress levels. Here are some tips you may find helpful, but it is best to consult a medical professional for personal, tailored advice:

– Identify the situation causing stress
– Try to control the situation
– Exercise daily
– Eat a balanced, healthy diet
– Prioritise spending time with family and friends
– Cut down on caffeine, alcohol and nicotine.

If you are experiencing hair loss, but if it has progressed over a long time, it may be caused by male pattern baldness. Taking our free consultation can help find an effective treatment suitable for your type and stage of hair loss.

All of our blog articles are reviewed for medical accuracy by our Medical Director before publication.

Posted in: All, Hair loss, Science