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While it is usual for women to lose 100 to 150 strands of hair per day, some women lose much more. This is often known as stress hair loss, and it can be a major issue. Continue reading to find out whether stress can cause hair loss or not and, if so, how to regain hair loss caused by stress. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent and treat stress hair loss.
I. Types of Stress Hair Loss
Many people experience hair thinning as a result of stress. You may simply notice that your hair isn’t as thick as it once was, especially if you’ve been crumbling under the pressures of regular stress. However, there are some actual conditions that impact the hair follicles and cause hair to fall out considerably more than usual. Knowing the distinctions between medical conditions is critical, so here is some background information.
Type of Stress Hair Loss #1: Telogen Effluvium (TE)
Telogen effluvium (TE) occurs when there’s a change in the number of hair follicles that are actually growing hair leading to shedding status. Stress causes hair to be pushed into the resting cycle, meaning less growth. This thinning may not occur all over the head.
It’s often seen in patches, especially toward the center of the scalp. People affected by TE usually don’t lose all of their scalp hair. The hair loss that occurs from TE is fully reversible. TE doesn’t permanently damage the hair follicles. TE will affect whether your hair grows back in a few short months, or longer. When things go back to normal, the hairs get pushed out. This condition does not cause baldness.
Type of Stress Hair Loss #2: Alopecia Areata (AA)
Alopecia actually means “hair loss”. This form of female pattern baldness can happen due to severe stress. Stress can make your immune system attacks your hair follicles, and it can result in hair loss. Hair may be lost in round patches on the scalp, or across the entire scalp. The hair may grow back and fall out repeatedly over a period of time. AA can affect men and women of any age, and now there is no known cure for AA.
II. How To Regain Stress Hair Loss?
Hair loss due to stress, will it grow back? You may be asking yourself this after seeing extra hair in the shower drain recently. However, there are a number of things that you can do to reduce hair loss and encourage new growth.
1. Diet and Nutrition
Eating a well-balanced, healthy diet of whole foods is essential for your overall health as well as the health of your hair. While it is critical to have all of the essential vitamins in a healthy diet, there are some that may be vital to hair growth:
- Vitamin C: This vitamin is essential for building collagen, the skin’s connective tissue that is found in hair follicles. Foods that contain vitamin C include citrus fruits, broccoli, bell peppers, and strawberries.
- Vitamin B: This complex of many vitamins promotes a healthy metabolism, as well as healthy skin and hair. B vitamins can be found in foods like dark leafy greens, beans, nuts, and avocados.
- Vitamin E: This vitamin contains potent antioxidants, which can contribute to a healthy scalp. Foods rich in vitamin E include sunflower seeds, spinach, olive oil, broccoli, and shrimp.
→ Keeping properly hydrated is also essential to overall good health. Every cell in your body relies on water to function properly.
2. Stress Management
Learning how to effectively manage your stress levels may help you reduce your risk for further hair loss. Of course, this is often easier said than done. You may have to try several different stress-management techniques before you find what works for you. You can refer to some popular ways to reduce stress below:
- Exercise: Exercise is a great way to eliminate stress. Try taking a light daily walk, signing up for a dance class, or doing some yard work.
- Hobbies: Occupying yourself with something that you enjoy doing can be a great way to combat stress. Consider doing volunteer work, joining your local community theatre group, planting a garden, or starting an art project.
- Writing: Try taking a few minutes each day to write about your feelings and the things that cause you stress. Reviewing the daily items that trigger your stress may help you to discover ways of coping with it.
3. Adding A Supplement and Hair Oils
Stress-related hair loss is not permanent. As soon as you relax and the stress stops, your hair will resume its normal growth cycle. Adding a supplement and hair oils can put you on the fast track to healthy-looking hair. Check out some of the recommendations below.
Castor Oil
Castor oil is packed with Omega 6 and 9 fatty acids and vitamin E. To help treat damaged hair from either stress or lack of care, castor oil is a recommended stress hair loss treatment that both promotes hair growth and prevents hair loss.
Biotin
Biotin is a B vitamin that nourishes your stressed tresses, leaving it healthier and longer. As a bonus, it’s also great for growing healthy nails and skin. A biotin supplement for a brief period of time can help reverse the noticeable signs of hair loss due to stress.
III. Conclusion
If your hair loss is stress-related, your hair follicles haven’t been permanently damaged. Managing your stress and taking good care of your health could result in your hair returning to a normal rate of growth. If you aren’t seeing results — see the doctor. They can help diagnose the reason for your hair loss and advise you on any next steps. If regrowth is possible, they can help determine the best treatment plan for your symptoms.
