Stress and Hair Loss

The relationship between stress and hair loss is a central topic in discussions about hair loss.
While stress appears to be linked to certain types of hair loss, it is not always clear whether its impact on hair health is direct or a result of the disruption of the body’s balance caused by a highly stressful situation.
This uncertainty about how stress and hair loss are connected is a matter of debate.
How Stress Affects the Hair Growth Cycle (Telogen Effluvium)
Hair renewal occurs in three phases, known as the hair growth cycle:
1. Anagen Phase (Growth): The majority of hair is in this phase, during which hair grows.
2. Catagen Phase (Transition): Lasting about two weeks, during which hair follicles shrink and prepare for shedding.
3. Telogen Phase (Resting): Lasting three to four months, during which shedding occurs.
During intense stress, a significant percentage of hair (around 70%) can prematurely enter the telogen phase.
As a result, three to four months after a stressful period, hair loss becomes noticeable.
The delay between the stressful event and the shedding can create confusion regarding the true cause of the problem.
Trichotillomania
Trichotillomania results in noticeable hair loss due to the repetitive pulling of hair.
The condition is associated with heightened tension before each episode, followed by a sense of relief or satisfaction.
Stress is one of the conditions often linked to trichotillomania.
Stress and Alopecia Areata
The causes of alopecia areata are complex and not entirely understood, though genetic, psychological, and immune factors seem to play a role.
Research on the connection between stress and alopecia areata has been ongoing since the 1960s, with mixed results.
Stress and Androgenetic Alopecia
It is often mistakenly believed that stress causes androgenetic alopecia.
While intense stress may accelerate the progression of this form of hair loss, it does not have a cause-and-effect relationship.
Androgenetic alopecia has hereditary roots and is caused by the chronic effects of androgens on hair follicles in individuals sensitive to this action.