There are many factors and conditions that impact the health of your hair and scalp. Habits like wearing tight hairstyles commonly trigger traction alopecia. Whilst genetics, illness and medication side effects are often identified as the cause of female and male hair loss. The causes of hair loss however go beyond the physical.

Your mental health and wellbeing can directly cause hair loss, with stress-related hair loss particularly common within the UK and the rest of the world. Stress-related hair loss is an issue that’s only worsening as we negotiate the new normal post-pandemic.

In this blog post, we explore the link between hair loss and stress, and share our expert tips for overcoming this common hair loss challenge.

Can stress actually cause hair loss?

Many hair loss conditions are directly triggered by significant stress. Stress after all affects so much more than our mental wellbeing, it has physical consequences too.

Heightened levels of stress can cause sleep issues, muscle tension, headaches and even heartburn. The influx of stress hormones is also able to weaken hair follicles, with the strands they contain going onto thin and/or fall out.

Which hair loss conditions are caused by stress?

Trichotillomania or hair pulling disorder is just one hair loss condition that has been connected to high stress levels. 1 in 50 people suffer from this particular stress-induced hair loss according to this research. Autoimmune condition alopecia areata is also thought to be exacerbated by stress causing patchy hair loss to occur.

Psychological trauma is a primary cause of telogen effluvium. Better known as stress-induced alopecia, the condition can cause permanent or temporary hair loss as Alopecia UK explains:

“Telogen Effluvium usually resolves itself completely within six to nine months. The normal length of the telogen phase is around three to six months, after which the hair begins to grow again. How long it takes for hair volume to return to normal will vary according to the length of hair. In some cases, the condition may last longer and in some rare cases, not all hairs grow back. This is often referred to as Chronic Telogen Effluvium.”

What treatments are available for stress-related hair loss?

When it comes to stress-induced hair loss, prevention is certainly better than cure. By actively managing your stress levels, you can prevent the physical and emotional stress that causes hair loss to keep your follicles as healthy as they should be.

There are many stress management techniques you can rely on. Dedicating more time to relaxation, practising mindfulness and prioritising self-care are simple ways to manage stress and look after you every day.

If stress-related hair loss symptoms are already taking their toll, it’s important to note that the vast majority of stress-induced hair loss issues resolve themselves with time. Overcoming stress-related hair loss is a waiting game, but there are medicines and topical treatments that may be useful for encouraging hair growth.

Tackling the underlying cause of stress is the key to making a faster recovery, so consider therapy and lean on loved ones for additional support during this difficult period.

All too often stress-related hair loss symptoms are exacerbated by the lack of confidence that commonly goes hand-in-hand with thinning hair and baldness. Investing in a wig or hairpiece is a great option for concealing stress-related hair loss and tackling its cause with complete confidence. Browse our range of wigs and hairpieces today.