Hair loss. I think it's fair to say that most of us have experienced it at one time or another. For me, it happened following the initial shock and stress of the start of the pandemic — and then again when I lost my job.
We've all had periods of stress in our lives, whether that's a bad job, toxic relationship or friendship fallouts. Add hair loss to the mix and you've got a recipe for even more stress. It's an awful catch-22 where stress causes hair loss, which can make life even more stressful, but stress is what's causing your hair to fall out in the first place. It feels like you can't win, but fear not — there are ways you can tackle stress.
We called on the experts to help us sort those suckers out.
How stress affects our scalp
To start with, it might be helpful to learn why stress causes hair loss in the first place — after all, it seems like an odd side effect of an already very tough time on the body. According to experts, it's all to do with hormones. “Your scalp and hair are very much influenced by hormonal fluctuations — and stress can disrupt your hormone levels,” explains Anabel Kingsley, brand president and consultant trichologist at Philip Kingsley.
So, how do hormone fluctuations influence excess hair fall? “Stress can also cause telogen effluvium, which occurs when the anagen (growth) phase of the hair growth cycle is cut short by an internal disturbance in the body", explains Anabel. “This causes many more hairs than usual to move from their anagen phase into their telogen (shedding) phase, resulting in excessive daily hair fall.” This shedding can be either acute (short-term) or chronic (recurring or continuous) depending on the cause and the severity of the disturbance to the body.
“Due to the hair growth cycle, Telogen Effluvium is often expected six to 12 weeks or so after the period of illness, medication or stress that triggered it. Although it can be extremely distressing, rest assured the hair will almost certainly grow back once the underlying issue has been resolved," she adds.
If stressful situations tip over into the extreme, a condition called alopecia areata can develop, where the body's immune system attacks the hair follicles, causing patchy hair loss. Alopecia can also be caused by genetic female pattern hair loss and hormonal fluctuations like menopause, pregnancy and PCOS.
How to tackle hair loss
If you notice excessive hair shedding while washing or brushing your hair, try not to worry too much. Easier said than done, we know. Anabel recommends looking back two or three months for possible causes. Did you lose a job or end a relationship? Or even experience something like an argument with a close friend or a scary situation on the Tube? Finding the source of the stress can help relieve the shock of finding excess hair fallout. “It's important to continue to shampoo, condition and style your hair as normal as these things will not cause or worsen shedding and will ensure the scalp remains as healthy as possible to help encourage hair growth," recommends Anabel.
As with everything to do with your health, if you notice sudden hair loss or much more hair loss than usual, check in with your GP to make sure there's no underlying health issue causing the sudden change in hair volume. Your doctor will also be able to share the best methods for treating the issue.
And if you're looking for ways to de-stress, follow our helpful guide on how to calm anxiety when life feels overwhelming.
