Depression and hair loss are linked and those suffering from depression can notice that hair can become dry, brittle and can break easily. The physiological states of depression such as low mood, discouragement, low self-esteem and feeling drained can be a factor in reducing the hair growth phase, leading to hair loss.
Whether depression is mild or severe, there is indeed evidence that it can affect hair growth and cause hair loss. And what's worse, both the physical and psychological effects of clinical depression may increase your risk of hair loss (as may the effects of other mental health conditions, for that matter).
Yes, stress and hair loss can be related. Three types of hair loss can be associated with high stress levels: Telogen effluvium. In telogen effluvium (TEL-o-jun uh-FLOO-vee-um), significant stress pushes large numbers of hair follicles into a resting phase.
Studies have shown that stress and anxiety can contribute to a number of hair loss conditions such as the following: Alopecia areata is a condition that causes the hair to suddenly fall out in large clumps and affects approximately 6.8 million people in the USA.
Summary: Hair samples from teens could help detect their risk of mental health problems. Researchers found teens with higher cortisol levels in hair samples were more likely to experience depression. Low cortisol levels were also linked to an increased risk of mental health issues.
Existential psychotherapist Sara Kuburic agrees with the need to feel in control as a large motive behind emotional haircuts. She shares that it “can also boost our confidence and make us feel better about ourselves. A hair change can mark a new beginning or be symbolic of letting go (literally).”
Telogen effluvium hair loss — the type of hair loss linked to stress — typically affects your scalp and may appear as patchy hair loss. However, it can also cause you to shed more body hair or notice less hair on your body than you normally would.
Stress is well known to cause hair loss. However, this hair loss is unlikely to be permanent and will grow back. The hair should start to grow back roughly 6 months after the stress has resolved. It is important to distinguish between physical and emotional stress when it comes to hair loss.
Depression can cause a loss of appetite, which may lead to weight loss. However, depression may instead cause an increase in appetite and therefore weight gain. Researchers now describe two types of depression: Type 1: Symptoms of type 1 include a loss of appetite, weight loss, insomnia, and suicidal thoughts.
Common symptoms of stress in women include: Physical. Headaches, difficulty sleeping, tiredness, pain (most commonly in the back and neck), overeating/under eating, skin problems, drug and alcohol misuse, lack of energy, upset stomach, less interest in sex/other things you used to enjoy.
Long-term, or chronic, stress puts people at risk for a variety of health problems. These can include depression and anxiety, as well as problems with digestion and sleep. Chronic stress has also long been linked to hair loss, but the reasons weren't well understood.
Texture Changes: While not as common, stress may also impact the texture of your tresses. “High levels of [cortisol] can, in some cases, cause changes in texture and appearance because it does affect follicle function,” Friese notes.
So try not to stress out about a few individual strands of lost hair on your hair tie. If you're concerned that you're shedding more hair than this, or you've noticed substantial hair loss when you wash or brush your hair, you're probably not paranoid. This may be the first sign of sustained hair loss.
Trichotillomania, also known as trich, is when someone cannot resist the urge to pull out their hair. They may pull out the hair on their head or in other places, such as their eyebrows or eyelashes.
It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging. Anyone can lose hair on their head, but it's more common in men. Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp. Hereditary hair loss with age is the most common cause of baldness.
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss.
Telogen effluvium is a common type of hair loss that affects people after they experience severe stress or a change to their body. Symptoms include thinning hair, usually around the top of your head. Treatment exists to reverse hair loss, but hair will typically grow back in three to six months without treatment.
Prolonged periods of stress can result in telogen effluvium. Hair loss typically occurs about 3 months after the stressful event. Poor diet. Hair requires key nutrients including protein, iron, B-vitamins, and zinc to grow.
If your hair starts to shed, or if your scalp flares up with oily, flaky skin, you often need look no further for a culprit than elevated levels of stress or anxiety.
Packed with a nurturing combination of ginkgo biloba b+, vitamin B complex including folic acid, vitamin B12, botanicals and live cultures, the antioxidant Ginkgo Biloba is an essential element in preventing and reducing further hair loss and provides your body with the right nutrients to increase hair growth.
Like anger, sadness weighs heavily on the face, and can cause wrinkles from repetitively frowning and furrowing brows.
As much as it seems like a bottle of bright-red dye is a cry for help, more than likely, actually a brave statement: “I'm still here, and I'm still me.” It's control, it's change, and it's fun–all valid reasons to switch things up.
A Cut Can Help With Mental Health
Our hair can have an intense connection to our emotional well-being. Studies have shown that cutting one's hair (especially when going through a traumatic life change, such as a breakup) can provide a sense of control and emotional release.