It’s been a massive few years globally, with stress being a prevalent response to everything happening around us. Stress impacts the body in a number of ways, including causing digestive issues, weakening the immune system, causing muscle pain and problems with sleep, mood or weight. Extreme stress can also be linked to hair loss.
Is Hair Loss A Natural Part Of Your Hair Cycle?
To a degree, hair loss is a natural part of hair growth, with new hair constantly replacing lost hair in the growth phase; this, however, is not the same as stress-related hair loss.
We are all born with around 100,000 scalp hair follicles, however, this amount changes based on your natural hair colour. Blondes really do have the most fun, with an average of 150,000 hair follicles, followed by those with black or brown hair averaging 110,000 to 100,000 hair follicles, and finally, redheads have an average of 90,000 hair follicles.
It’s considered a normal part of the hair cycle to lose 50-100 strands a day. Anything beyond this is considered excessive hair loss or, in medical terminology, ‘telogen effluvium’.
What is stress-induced hair loss?
Telogen effluvium is stress-related hair loss, often resulting in patchy hair loss following an extreme period of stress in an individual’s life. Usually, telogen effluvium will first be present by thinning hair, either in one area, or spread across the entire scalp. Sometimes telogen effluvium can also cause other body hair to fall out. However, this isn’t as likely.
How Does Stress Cause Hair Loss? What Are The Triggers?
Physical trauma
Temporary hair loss or patchy hair loss can be the result of the body’s high-stress levels following physical trauma. For example, a car crash, losing blood or having surgery. When the stress levels are raised from physical trauma, hair follicle stem cells enter into a resting phase, where they stop growing. Usually, you won’t notice the hair loss until two months after the event; this type of hair loss will usually cure itself within six months to a year.
Hormones
Sudden changes in hormones can lead to temporary hair loss; some women experience hair loss during pregnancy, while others notice that their hair grows thicker and healthier. Again, this type of hair loss usually resolves itself within six months.
Medications
Some medications may affect your hair growth cycle. If you are experiencing extreme hair loss following starting a new medication, it may be worth speaking to a doctor to see if they can change your dose or swap you to a different variation.
Diet
Some vitamin deficiencies can lead to hair loss, for example, if you are low in iron, zinc or vitamin B-6 or B-12. If you believe your hair loss could be diet related, it’s best to speak with a doctor to get your hair growth back on track.
Sign of another condition
Sometimes hair loss may be a sign of another problem occurring within the body. For example, some autoimmune disorders can result in hair loss. If you are unsure why you may be experiencing hair loss, speaking with a doctor to understand if chronic stress or something else is the root issue is advisable.
Tips For Managing Stress To Prevent Hair Loss
If you believe emotional stress may be the cause of your hair loss, there are a few ways that you can manage your stress to attempt to prevent further hair loss:
- Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day
- Practice techniques that promote relaxation, such as meditation and breathing practices
- Make sure you are getting at least 8 hours of sleep a night
- Eat a healthy diet with lots of micronutrients
- Limit your intake of caffeine and alcohol
- Manage time more efficiently to reduce emotional stress caused by being too overworked
- Connect with friends and family
- Seek professional help
A Solution To Hair Loss: Scalp Micropigmentation
Scalp micropigmentation is a non-invasive treatment for hair loss, thinning or patchy hair. Scalp micropigmentation, or SMP, is a non-surgical technique that mimics the appearance of hair follicles by tattooing small dots on the scalp. SMP creates an illusion of a fuller head of hair, making it an ideal solution for male and female pattern baldness, alopecia areata (an immune condition), or patchy hair loss.
The pigment is matched to the colour of your hair to create a natural look. SMP is a safe, non-invasive solution to hair loss that helps individuals restore the appearance of a full head of hair without going through surgery or other more invasive treatment options. Usually, SMP takes between 2-4 sessions to achieve the desired outcome, and the finished product can last for several years.
For a reputable scalp micropigmentation clinic, put your faith in Foli Sim. The Foli Sim team is a dynamic, highly skilled group of individuals specialising in scalp micropigmentation. Foli Sim is a family-owned and operated business that provides highly trained staff to care for you.
Get In Touch
At Foli Sim, we offer a free consultation to get you on track to a restored sense of confidence. So if you want to take your first step on your SMP journey, fill out our enquiry form below or reach out to our friendly staff on 1300 668 490.
Frequently asked questions
What is stress-related hair loss called?
I refer to stress-related hair loss as telogen effluvium. It often results in patchy hair loss after an extreme period of stress. It may first appear as thinning hair in one area or across the entire scalp. In some cases, it can also cause other body hair to fall out.
How much hair loss is considered normal each day?
I explain that losing 50 to 100 strands a day is considered a normal part of the hair cycle. New hair constantly replaces lost hair during the growth phase. Hair loss beyond this amount is considered excessive hair loss, or telogen effluvium in medical terminology.
When might stress-related hair loss become noticeable?
I explain that hair loss following physical trauma may not become noticeable until two months after the event. Physical trauma can include a car crash, losing blood or having surgery. This type of temporary hair loss will usually cure itself within six months to a year.
Can hormonal changes cause temporary hair loss?
I explain that sudden changes in hormones can lead to temporary hair loss. Some women experience hair loss during pregnancy, while others notice that their hair grows thicker and healthier. This type of hair loss usually resolves itself within six months, although individual experiences can differ.
Can medications affect the hair growth cycle?
I explain that some medications may affect the hair growth cycle. If someone experiences extreme hair loss after starting a new medication, I recommend speaking with a doctor. A doctor may be able to change the dose or swap the medication to a different variation.
What should I do if I am unsure why my hair is falling out?
I recommend speaking with a doctor if the cause of hair loss is unclear. Hair loss can sometimes be a sign of another problem in the body, including autoimmune disorders. A doctor can help determine whether chronic stress or something else may be the root issue.
