Can Anxiety And Stress Cause Hair Loss?

Each year, anxiety problems impact around 25% of the population. Moreover, both stress and anxiety are unpleasant emotions that may be triggered by any minor nuisance that occurs during the day. Anxiety in particular leads our bodies to exhibit fight-or-flight signs — often a surge of adrenaline that causes your heart to race and your body to shake. While stress and anxiety might make us feel anxious and alert, they can also result in other undesirable side effects, such as hair loss. Hair loss caused by anxiety may exacerbate your stress levels. If you’re experiencing hair loss as a consequence of your mental health problem, there are a few ways to manage those feelings. More information on hair loss linked with stress and anxiety can be found in this article, as well as information on how to effectively manage such emotions in order to reverse the consequences of the hair loss.

Why Is Anxiety Associated With Hair Loss? 

If you are experiencing hair loss as a consequence of stress and anxiety, you may be suffering from one of many diseases. These include the following: 

  • Areata Alopecia 
  • Telogen Effluvium 
  • Trichotillomania 

Areata Alopecia 

This illness develops as a result of extreme stress and worry which causes big clumps of hair to fall out of the scalp. This is an autoimmune reaction in which white blood cells — which ordinarily guard the body but destroy intruders — are driven to assault the hair follicles of the body. 

This assault impairs the development of the afflicted hairs, which fall out after a few weeks. Initially, the ailment presents as little clumps of hair in one location, followed by small round patches on the scalp. If left untreated, the illness may expand rapidly and eventually cover the whole head. 

Telogen Effluvium 

Certain stressful life events — such as childbirth, emotional trauma, surgery, or sickness, may result in severe stress, which might result in unexpected hair loss. This condition is referred to as telogen effluvium. 

This, however, does not always occur swiftly. The problem may be persistent for an extended period of time, maybe months, before you notice any symptoms. It often results in hair loss on the crown of the head rather than on the sides or in the front. Sufferers often feel this impact when brushing or washing their hair in the shower. 

Telogen Effluvium is a condition that results from improper chemical activity in the body, which causes the nervous system to send destructive signals to the hair follicles. This alters the development pattern, hence impairing normal growth. An abnormally large number of hairs stay in or enter the shedding and resting phases of their cycle. 

Trichotillomania 

Trichotillomania, in contrast to the other two diseases, is not produced by unconscious neurological system effects but rather by the person ripping off their own hair. 

Trichotillomania presents a significant mental challenge to patients. This is not attention-seeking behavior, but a compulsion that they are unable to control, resulting in bald patches. Trichotillomania may be triggered by a variety of different mental health disorders, but one of the most prevalent is stress and worry. 

Anyone May Suffer From Anxiety And Hair Loss

Combating worry may be draining. Stressing your mind and body in order to heal might actually increase your stress levels. There is evidence that alopecia contributes to increased anxiety, as well — which is why it is critical to listen to and react to your mind and body when you are concerned about it.

Is Hair Loss Caused By Anxiety Permanent?

While stress and anxiety-related hair loss might be significant, it is not usually permanent. By treating the underlying source of your concern, you may quickly restore your hair to health. It is critical to work on lowering general stress and anxiety levels, as well as developing coping mechanisms in case of recurrence.

Hair Loss Caused By Medical Conditions

As we’ve just discussed, hair loss can be triggered by a few distinct medical conditions. When clumps of hair may be brushed or pulled out fast, two main forms of hair loss are often present and are associated with stress and anxiety.

Areata Alopecia

Large clumps of hair may come out unexpectedly, resulting in areas of hair loss. Certain individuals may also notice hair loss in other areas of the body. While the hair can regrow, persistent worry and stress may result in continuous hair loss, resulting in distinct patches of hair and baldness.

Telogen Effluvium

This is the second most often occurring kind of hair loss. In essence, it happens when the number of hair follicles producing hair changes. The number of hair follicles generating hair will decline, resulting in an increase in dormant hair follicles and hair loss. TE may manifest as thinning hair on the top of the scalp that is more noticeable than on the sides or back of the scalp.

What To Do If You’re Anxious And Losing Hair

If you are stressed and anxious, hair loss will not come quickly, nor will it be the only indication. Hair loss as a consequence of anxiety often happens only when the symptoms are especially acute or have persisted for an extended period of time. As a result, it is recommended to manage anxiety immediately. This increases the likelihood that it will react to therapy immediately and reduces the likelihood of developing symptoms such as hair loss. While treating anxiety is tough, there are actions you may take, including the following:

  • Consult your primary care physician. They may discuss your symptoms with you and recommend you to a specialist for CBT therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to be useful in the treatment of anxiety.
  • Taking care of your body. Getting regular exercise and eating a balanced diet might help alleviate anxious symptoms.

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What To Do If You’re Stressed And Losing Hair

Along with taking the best possible care of your hair, lowering your overall stress level can benefit not just the quality and development of your hair, but will also help prevent future stress-related hair loss. Several common and successful methods for reducing overall stress include the following:

  • Spend time outdoors.
  • Discuss your feelings with a trustworthy friend or family member.
  • Investigate meditation disciplines like yoga, mindfulness, and Tai Chi.
  • Self-care practices that promote relaxation, such as baths and massages.
  • Limiting screen usage, particularly in the bedroom.
  • Pursuing a creative outlet, for example, via painting or writing.
  • Participating in a club or sports team.

When Can I Expect To Regain My Hair?

If worry and stress are determined to be the cause, the good news is that hair should return within a few months to a year. If stress is not the only issue, a good nutrition-based diet, vitamin supplements, and a stress management program with exercise and meditation will almost certainly be suggested. If none of these therapies are effective, your primary care physician may do further testing to rule out suspected nutritional deficiencies and other possible reasons. However, let us be candid. You are aware of when situations are stressful, and you are probably aware of what you need to do. Individuals in recovery live their daily lives within boundaries that have been shown to offer a safe and effective framework for living a life of wellbeing. The same discipline and effort are used to identify and gradually eliminate stress and worry in our life. What is the most critical piece of advice? Take it one day at a time. Make modest adjustments such as deep breathing, patience with the process, and controlling stresses until you have a clean headspace in which to handle them.

When Should You Consult With A Hair Loss Expert?

It’s essential to keep in mind that hair loss is not always the result of worry. If you are experiencing significant hair loss, you should see one of our medical hair loss experts to rule out other possible reasons. After that, you may focus on minimizing your overall stress or anxiety and obtaining expert hair restoration therapy at our clinic. Contact our Nova Medical Hair Transplant team in New Jersey if you’re concerned about hair loss for any cause — including stress, anxiety, depression, or any other ailment. They’ll be able to assist you in determining the best course of action to take in order to recover your hair. Additionally, they may be able to connect you to the appropriate professional to assist you in managing your mental health as well.

Ways To Reclaim Hair That Has Been Lost Due To Stress

Vitamins And Dietary Supplements

Your hair’s quality and pace of regeneration are strongly impacted by your overall health, thus enhancing your overall nutrition will benefit your hair. Additionally, several vitamins and supplements are well-known for their ability to promote healthy hair development, including vitamins D and B5, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, and folic acid.

Exercises In General

Maintaining a good physical state is helpful for general health, which promotes healthy hair. Therefore, selecting an activity that you love and can practice on a consistent basis can aid in hair regeneration while also improving the strength and quality of your hair in the future.

Specific Exercises

Certain workouts are very beneficial for promoting hair development. For instance, some yoga positions are believed to stimulate blood circulation in the scalp, which promotes healthy hair. The majority of inversion exercises in which you tilt your head upside down have been shown to boost hair health.

Shampoos And Hair Styling Products

There are shampoos, conditioners, treatments, and other items specifically formulated to thicken hair or promote quicker, stronger regeneration. These often include active components ranging from naturally occurring substances such as coffee or wheat to artificially synthesized substances such as Minoxidil.

Massage

Massage promotes blood flow to the scalp and may help maintain the condition of hair follicles. You may massage your scalp gently in little circular motions. Alternatively, you might seek treatment from hair stylists who are increasingly providing this service for their patients as well.

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