If you have ever had an extra serving of stress in your life, you may have noticed that the mental issues take a toll on your physical well-being. Stress can cause fluxuations in your weight, cause you to lose sleep, and it tends to add an almost physical weight to your steps. It is no wonder, then, that the stress that is keeping you up late at night may also be causing you to lose a bit of hair. If this sounds like a problem that you may be having, don’t panic quite yet! Unlike hereditary hair loss, hair loss that is caused by stress can be stopped and even reversed, once you get your stress under control.
Types of Hair Loss
When it comes to hair loss, there are many different factors and conditions, which can cause it. The three types of hair loss most often associated with stress are alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, and trichotillomania. Alopecia areata is a condition wherein white blood cells actually attack the hair follicle, stopping growth and causing hair loss. Telogen effluvium is a condition in which emotional or physical stress actually pushes a large number of hairs to a resting place where, within months, the hairs begin to fall out with normal activities, such as combing your hair or even running your fingers through it. Trichotillomania is a bit more of an anxiety related condition, in which the affected person begins to physically pull at the hair on their head or other parts of the body as a result of anxiety or stress.
The Good News
Luckily, modern medicine has made it very easy for you to grow your hair back, if stress is the factor in your hair loss. Treatments for alopecia areata, as well as the other hair loss conditions relating to stress, are widely available over the counter and insurance may even cover the cost of any prescription medication, you may need to treat your hair loss. However, before you even get to that point, you need to figure out what is causing you so much stress and deal with the issue. Depending on the issue, it may even be a good idea to consult a therapist, to help you get through this tough time.
Stress is really a problem for pretty much anyone who is an active part of their society. Work related stress can make it tough to relax at home, while home stress can make it tough to focus at work. Yes, hair loss is terrible, but it is nothing compared to the other medical conditions that can be caused by stress. Now is the time to address your stress and do something about it!