Stress is something that unfortunately many of us will be familiar with. There are a variety of symptoms and side effects such as: a churning stomach, inability to sleep, increased heart rate and nervous mannerisms developing; and it doesn’t just have a psychological impact.
The physical consequences of stress can take their toll on many parts of the body – including the health and condition of your hair. It is known that stress not only causes your hair to turn grey (because the melanin stem cells have left the hair follicles), but it can also cause it to fall out.
Stress and hair
There are many reasons why stress can affect you – major psychological or physical stresses, or even hormonal changes involved with the stresses of pregnancy and childbirth amongst other things can have a huge impact on your hair.
Hair loss may be seen in small strand-by-strand cases up to clumps coming out at a time, no matter how much the loss – it is still disturbing and can leave you feeling uneasy and with a loss of confidence.
Some of the main conditions associated with stress and its effects on hair are:
- Alopecia areata – this is where the body’s immune system attacks the hair follicles and results in patches of baldness. In most cases, hair grows back after a number of months.
- Telogen effluvium – this is the most common type of stress related hair loss and results in hair follicles going into a ‘resting phase’, where no new hair is produced and after a few months, the existing strands may simply fall out.
- Trichotillomania – this is an impulse disorder where the person afflicted pulls the hair out from the scalp and other areas of the body as a way to deal with stress, anxiety or frustration.
- Oxidative Stress – This is a condition essentially caused by an imbalance in the body between the production of Free Radicals, and the body’s ability to counteract or detoxify them by neutralizing them with Antioxidants.
Hair loss is rarely the only symptom of stress and may sufferers indicate other problems – so you should see a Doctor if you experience any of these conditions to get the right advice about how to proceed and deal with the condition.
Other symptoms of stress
Sometimes the signs of stress can be more subtle than full scale hair loss but still a problem to deal with.
One example is a dry, itchy scalp that is common when you have been under prolonged stress or a short term personal crisis. In this situation, hormones are released with pro-inflammatory chemicals that stop the scalp functioning properly, leading to dryness and itchiness. One method to combat this is to wash your hair less often to allow the scalp more time to produce natural oils and ease the dryness.
Flare ups with conditions like eczema and psoriasis are also common when you are suffering from stress. Both conditions are hereditary but stress can cause an increase in symptoms as it disrupts the skin’s barrier function and creates inflammation friendly situations where the conditions thrive. Anti-inflammatory or antihistamine cream may help but always refer to a GP or pharmacist before using anything to be certain it is the correct treatment and strength for you
Dealing with hair loss due to stress
Whether the stress has resulted in a hair loss condition, a flare up of a skin condition or even a connection between stress and hair thinning, KeraHealth is here to help you manage your hair, to return it to its natural glory.
KeraHealth has a range of patented formulas available to both men and women to help. Clinically tested and created from healthy natural materials, KeraHealth is here to help you regain thick, strong, luxuriously healthy hair.
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