Stress is a natural human response to challenging situations. A little stress may even be a good thing… acting as a powerful motivator that improves performance, increases alertness, and enhances memory function.
Unfortunately, humans aren’t built for the sheer amount of stress we encounter in our daily lives. Our careers, relationships, finances, health, and even world events beyond our control cause excessive emotional or physical stress that takes a toll on every part of our bodies, including our hair and scalp. Stress is one of the top causes of hair loss – wreaking havoc on hair’s growth cycle, sparking hair-damaging immune issues, and causing destructive behaviors that harm our hair and scalp.
Is My Hair Loss Stress or Genetic?
To address your hair loss, you need to understand what is happening in your body… and especially in your scalp. The vast majority of hair loss cases are caused by genetics or stress – sometimes with one exacerbating the other.
Genetic hair loss is caused by hormonal changes that shrink hair follicles, leading to less productive growth. Known as androgenic alopecia, this type of hair loss occurs in specific patterns and progresses with age. Stress-related hair loss usually presents as telogen effluvium, which is a disruption in your hair’s growth cycle that causes excessive shedding and a shortened growth phase.
Another form of stress-related hair loss is called trichotillomania – a disorder where one develops a nervous habit of pulling out individual hairs or small patches of hair. The hair loss can be reversed in many cases if treated and the habit is broken, though a prolonged case can sometimes damage hair follicles… making it permanent.
What Does Stress Hair Loss Look Like?
Hair loss from stress typically shows up as diffuse shedding throughout the scalp. There is no discernible pattern to stress-related hair loss unless you have a stress-triggered autoimmune condition like alopecia areata, if you have trichotillomania, or if your existing pattern baldness is being aggravated by stress. This holds true for all genders.
Does Hair Loss from Stress Go Away?
You may not notice improvement in hair growth right away but – if you reduce your stress levels – excess hair loss eventually should diminish or stop altogether. If you can’t remove your stressors completely then endeavor to eat a balanced diet, get adequate sleep, engage in a meditation or mindfulness practice, and take time to focus on yourself and your wellbeing.
Can Hair Grow Back After Extreme Stress?
Telogen effluvium hair loss from stress is typically temporary. If your stress is well-managed, your hair should grow back within three to six months. In the meantime, we can help you create the conditions for optimal regrowth with non-invasive treatments that stimulate the scalp and encourage hair growth.
Hair loss from conditions like alopecia areata and trichotillomania also may be reversible, especially if the underlying causes are addressed and resolved quickly.
Set Up a Consultation Today
Reef Hair offers a full spectrum of hair restoration treatments that can help with stress-induced hair loss. If you experience permanent hair loss, we also perform device assisted ARTAS® and NeoGraft® hair replacement procedures, in addition to classic manual transplants.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation at our Huntington Beach location. At your initial appointment, we will perform a full hair and scalp analysis and discuss potential treatments to help you achieve the hairline you desire!
