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Stress Related Hair Loss

Stress and anxiety can cause hair loss, and in some cases, it can actually lead to pulling your own hair out!

Stress levels affect everyone. The stress of disciplining your children, stress at your job, stress when managing your finances, or the stress of coping with a difficult relationship. Stress is everywhere. And while minimal stress can be manageable, high levels of stress can wear you down and make you sick, both mentally and physically. One of the most noticeable physical signs of too much stress is hair loss.

 

Certain types of hair loss can be associated with high stress levels. 

 

If you notice more than usual hair loss when combing or washing your hair, or sudden, patchy hair loss talk to your primary care physician. Sudden hair loss can signal an underlying medical condition that requires treatment. If needed, your doctor may also recommend other treatment options for your hair loss. Stress related hair loss isn't always permanent. If you get your stress under control, your hair may begin to grow back.

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The three most common types of hair loss related to high stress levels are:

 

  • Telogen effluvium. In telogen effluvium (TEL-o-jun uh-FLOO-vee-um), significant stress pushes large numbers of hair follicles into a resting phase. Within a few months, affected hairs might fall out suddenly when simply combing or washing your hair.

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  • Trichotillomania. Trichotillomania (trik-o-til-o-MAY-nee-uh) is an irresistible urge to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows or other areas of your body. Hair pulling can be a way of dealing with negative or uncomfortable feelings, such as stress, tension, loneliness, boredom or frustration. 

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  • Alopecia areata. A variety of factors are thought to cause alopecia areata (al-o-PEE-she-uh ar-e-A-tuh), possibly including severe stress. With alopecia areata, the body's immune system attacks the hair follicles — causing hair loss.

 

According to the National Institutes of Health, up to four percent

of the population is affected by trichotillomania, with women developing it at nearly double the rate of men.

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stress related hair loss

Stress related hair loss can occur anywhere from six weeks to three months after a very stressful life event, such as divorce, death or serious financial upset. This temporary hair loss, called telogen effluvium, can also be caused by hormonal changes such as menopause or post-pregnancy, illness or poor diet. The good news is that there are steps you can take to reduce stress related hair loss.

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There’s a delay between when a hair stops growing and when it falls out, there’s also a delay between a stressful event (which can be physical, like surgery or trauma, or emotional, like a divorce or the loss of a loved one) and when hair loss might occur. Stress related hair loss known as Trichotillomania is commonly associated with feelings of despair, loneliness and frustration. 

Stress related hair loss isn't always permanent, in some cases the hair you've lost grows back. It may take some time though, so take steps towards reducing your stress levels as soon as possible. 

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The hair replacement experts at Suisse Salon have successfully helped thousands of men and women put an end to their hair loss struggles. Our natural hair integration technique works to conceal all common types of hair loss such as Androgenetic Alopecia, Telogen Effluvium, Anagen Effluvium, Alopecia Areata, Traction Alopecia, and works extremely well for combating Trichotillomania. Call Suisse at (617)244-9414 or click here to schedule a private consultation.

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