How Stress Causes Hair Loss and What You Can Do About It

Stress is common in today’s fast-paced world, and unfortunately, the mind and body can pay a high price. Working hard to impress your boss, bills, traffic, and being late are just a few typical day-to-day stressors. Stress can make you feel you’re losing your mind, but can it cause you to lose your hair?

While daily hassles, such as traffic jams or being late for work can cause stress, it won’t result in your hair falling out the next day. Hair loss is related to prolonged stress that results in physiological changes. Three types of hair loss can be associated with high-stress levels, including:

Telogen effluvium

Telogen effluvium is a reactive process triggered by metabolic stress, hormonal changes, or medications. Telogen effluvium is triggered when physiologic stress causes a large number of hairs in the growing phase of the hair cycle (anagen) to abruptly enter the resting phase (telogen). Within a few months of the stressful event, the impacted hair may fall out suddenly with combing. 

Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania, also known as hair-pulling disorder, is characterized by the repetitive pulling out of one’s hair. Hair pulling can be a way of dealing with stress, anxiety, boredom, tension, or frustration. If left untreated, bald patches can develop over time.

Alopecia areata

Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune skin disease, causing hair loss on the scalp, face and sometimes on other areas of the body. According to research, stress has a role in alopecia areata and other skin diseases. With alopecia areata, the body’s immune system attacks the hair follicles, which causes hair loss from the scalp. 

How to Relieve Stress

You can’t always prevent stress from occurring, but you can minimize the amount of stress you experience. Here are a few ways you can relieve stress in your daily life:

Exercise

Exercise is one of the most important things you can do to combat stress. Studies show that exercise is a very effective way of reducing fatigue, improving alertness and concentration, and enhancing overall cognitive function. This can be especially helpful when stress has depleted your ability to concentrate.

Reduce your caffeine intake

Coffee, tea, and energy drinks could be the cause of your anxiety and stress. People have different thresholds for how much caffeine they can tolerate. If you notice that caffeine makes you jittery and anxious, you should consider cutting back or finding an alternative to give you energy.

Laugh

Do you ever recall a time when you felt anxious or stressed when laughing with your friends and family? Hopefully not! Laughing is great for your health and can help relieve your stress response and tension by relaxing your muscles. Research indicates that the physical act of laughing, even without humor, is linked to chemical changes in the body that potentially reduces stress.  

Journal

Journaling is a great way to relieve stress and get all your thoughts on paper. You can write in detail about your feelings and thoughts related to stressful events, which can help clarify those feelings, helping you gain valuable introspection and relieve stress. 

FAQs

Q1: How to stop hair loss due to stress?

To stop hair loss caused by stress, it’s important to address the underlying source of stress while supporting healthy hair growth. Managing stress through regular exercise, quality sleep, mindfulness, and a balanced diet can help reduce excessive shedding. If stress-related hair loss persists, treatments such as low-level laser therapy (LLLT), nutritional support, and guidance from a healthcare professional may help stimulate hair growth and improve scalp health.

Q2: What does stress-induced hair loss look like?

Stress-induced hair loss often appears as increased hair shedding rather than distinct bald patches. You may notice more hair falling out while brushing, washing, or on your pillow. Hair may also appear thinner across the scalp, especially after several weeks or months of significant physical or emotional stress. In most cases, the scalp remains healthy, but overall hair density gradually decreases.

Q3: Will my hair grow back after stress loss?

Yes, hair usually grows back after stress-related hair loss once the underlying cause is resolved. Most people begin to notice regrowth within three to six months, although it can take up to a year for hair to regain its normal thickness. Supporting healthy hair growth with proper nutrition, stress management, and clinically proven treatments such as low-level laser therapy (LLLT) may help improve recovery.

Q4: How to tell if hair is thinning?

Signs of thinning hair include a wider part, reduced hair volume, increased scalp visibility, excessive daily shedding, and a thinner ponytail. You may also notice more hair collecting in your brush or shower drain. If hair thinning continues for several months or worsens over time, consulting a healthcare provider or hair restoration specialist can help identify the cause and recommend appropriate treatment options.

How Can the Original LaserCap Help You?

In many cases, hair loss due to stress is not permanent. No matter what the cause of your hair loss may be, losing your hair can be an emotional struggle. Fortunately, there are many treatment options to help you feel like yourself again! Some treatment solutions slow hair loss or regrow hair, helping you achieve the hair you deserve. As technology advances, there are more treatment options available than ever!

The original LaserCap uses Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), a modern non-surgical hair loss treatment that uses laser light to stimulate cell growth and re-energize inactive hair follicles. Advantages of LLLT for hair loss include:

Safe and natural – Natural, drug free with no serious adverse side effects.

Versatile – The LaserCap works for almost all hair loss patients and in combination with all other treatments for hair loss.

Convenient – Do you have a busy lifestyle? Then LaserCap is for you! The LaserCap is portable and easy to use. Just insert LaserCap into your favorite hat, place it on your head, and turn it on for 30 minutes every other day.

With LaserCap you can slow, stop, or reverse your hair loss. Combine our advanced LaserCap technology with prescription medications for hair regrowth and nutritional supplements to support optimal hair health. Start your online consultation today!