Why does stress cause hair loss?
There are several factors that contribute to hair loss when a person is under stress. First and foremost, stress causes tightening of the muscles, and that includes the muscles in your scalp. Those tiny muscles that are attached to your hair follicles can contract as well, and this causes the follicle growth to be somewhat stalled. After a while, some of these hairs may fall out, and it may seem like it’s happening all at once or at least that you’re continually shedding more hair than usual.
Another way stress can manifest itself through hair loss is alopecia areata. If you’re unfamiliar with it, alopecia areata (a specific form of alopecia) occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your hair follicles and causes hair to fall out in circular spots on your head, usually about the size of a nickel. You may have one spot or a few, and hair may or may not grow back, but most of the time it’s nothing to worry about.
Can stress-related hair loss be reversed?
In short, it follows logically that if you reduce your stress levels, your hair loss can be reversed or at least reduced as well. But if it takes what feels like a long time, keep in mind that stress doesn’t go away overnight, either. It’s a process—but there’s nothing that says you can’t find ways to enjoy that process.
In the mean time, Toppik Hair Building Fibers are a great option for disguising hair loss caused by stress. Many find that the effect of hair loss on their appearance amplifies their feelings of stress, which further exacerbates the situation. If this is the case for you, Hair Building Fibers may bring some relief.
How can I reduce stress and avoid hair loss?
Of course, there’s no singular way to reduce stress; each person must find his or her own methods and techniques. Research and make a list of stress-relieving ideas, such as yoga, deep breathing, exercise, massage…think of an activity that makes you feel calm and happy, and set aside time for that as often as possible.
One stress reduction technique to highlight is massage, because the benefits go much deeper than just relaxation. Think about the tight muscles in your neck, shoulders, and even your scalp. Have you ever been to the salon and received a relaxing head massage along with your shampoo? (If not, please give it a try, because it’ll provide instant relaxation!)
Not only will scalp massage relax you and relieve stress, it encourages those muscles to loosen up as well. Looser muscles means more blood flow to the follicle, which—guess what—feeds the follicle and helps with hair loss! Feeding more oxygen and nutrients to the hair root is never a bad thing. In fact, you’ll find that making even a five-minute scalp massage a regular part of your routine will make loads of difference in both your stress levels and hair loss!
Scalp massage is one relaxation technique that provides the quickest results—but it certainly can’t hurt to have your neck and back massaged as well. Book a massage and ask your massage therapist to include your scalp. If you can’t splurge on an appointment, no worries; even massaging your own scalp will make a difference!
So if you’re experiencing stress-related hair loss, there’s no need to let it worry you. When you find the stress-relieving techniques that work best for you, you will be happier, calmer, and everything else will fall into place.