Everyone loses some hair from the scalp every day. But, if you lose more hair than usual, there could be an underlying reason for hair loss. In general, women lose more strands of hair compared to men.

You might have heard that extreme stress can result in hair loss, and it is a fact. Stress is very much related to hair loss. Excessive physical or emotional stress associated with stressful events like injury, illness, or any surgery and tensions might cause hair loss. Stress affects hair loss in both men and women. 

Usually, there will be a 2 to 3 months gap between the stressful event and your hair starts falling out. You may recover from hair loss once you overcome the phase unless there’s any other underlying health problem for your hair loss.

However, stress and anxiety are linked to the three hair loss conditions, Telogen effluvium, Trichotillomania, and Alopecia areata, that can trigger you to lose hair.

Stress and Telogen Effluvium

It is a common and temporary condition of hair fall. Stress stops the growth of your hair follicles and forces them into a “resting” phase, and prevents producing new hair strands. Over time, your hair starts to fall out suddenly and easily, even if you wash or comb your hair. This condition is also caused due to poor nutrition and hormonal changes.

Trichotillomania

Have you ever found yourself pulling out your hair from your head or eyebrows, or other body areas? It might be a sign of Trichotillomania, an irresistible urge to pull your hair when you are stressed or tense. Expert says it is a psychological condition observed in people experiencing negative emotions, like stress & anxiety. It is more commonly noticed in women, especially in young girls.

Alopecia areata

It is a condition in which your body’s immune system starts to attack and destroy your hair follicles, causing hair fall. Alopecia areata is thought to be caused by several factors, including severe stress.  

In some people, the condition might cause thin hair, whereas other people might experience bald spots. Hair regrows and falls out again over time, while the exact cause of alopecia areata is not known. Experts say that genetics might play a role. 

Stress causes hair loss, but it is not permanent. If you can overcome your stress, your hair will grow back.

How to get relief from stress?

Unfortunately, sometimes you may not be able to prevent stress from coming into your life, but you can control the level of stress you experience. When you can get the upper hand on stress in some areas, you can easily handle the stress or anxiety. Here are some techniques that help you to reduce stress levels in your life.

• Learn to practice some relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga and follow them regularly
• Exercise regularly helps to control your stress and its effects.
• Find social support, isolating yourself from others makes stress worse. Spend some quality time with positive people.
• Seek help from a professional therapist to reduce stress
• A healthy diet also plays a key role in stress management. Take multivitamins if recommended by your doctor.
• Take care of your hair while washing, drying, or styling it.
• Self-care – An important thing to improve your confidence levels and overcome stress early.

Some habits tend to be highly efficient in managing stress and helps to build resilience toward future stress. The solution is making them a part of your daily life and practising them even when you are not feeling stressed.

Any stressful circumstance can trigger hair loss, including pregnancy, chronic health illnesses, relationship problems, financial issues, poor nutrition, medical treatments like chemotherapy, surgery, high-dose medications, and even jet lag. 

If you notice sudden and unusual hair loss while combing or washing your hair or hair loss in patches, consult a doctor immediately. It might be due to an underlying health issue that needs to be treated. To know more information or look for treatment options for your hair loss, consult our experts at Best Hair Transplant Clinic in Hyderabad. Our haircare doctors are experienced in providing tailor-made treatments for hair loss in women.