How Stress Causes Hair Loss and How to Regain Your Hair

Stress is a normal part of life but when it starts affecting your hair, it can feel very overwhelming. Hair loss triggered by stress is a real issue that many people face. In fact, physical or emotional stress can cause as much as 50% to 75% of your scalp hair to fall out.

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be permanent. At Ziering Medical, we specialize in both identifying and addressing stress-related hair loss, with real solutions for restoring your hair and your confidence.

How Much Hair Loss is Normal?

It’s normal to lose some hair every day. The average person sheds anywhere from 50 to 100 strands of hair daily as part of the natural growth cycle. 

However, if you’re finding significantly more hair in your brush, shower drain, or on your pillow, it could be a sign that something else is at play like stress. 

When stress triggers hair loss, you might notice clumps of hair falling out or overall thinning. This isn’t just a slight increase in shedding; it’s a more dramatic loss that feels out of the ordinary. 

How Does Stress Cause Hair Loss?

TChronic stress disrupts the body in many ways and one of those reactions can affect your hair. 

Recent research from Harvard University revealed that stress triggers the release of a stress hormone called cortisol that puts hair follicle stem cells into an extended resting phase. 

Normally, hair follicles cycle between growth and rest, but under stress, this balance is thrown off. The hair follicles enter a dormant or resting state, preventing new hair from growing, which ultimately leads to hair shedding.

Interestingly, the hormone doesn’t affect the hair follicles directly. Instead, it stops a signal from the cells underneath the hair follicles, called dermal papilla cells, which play an important role for activating hair growth. 

The question now is, will hair loss from stress grow back? Fortunately, the researchers found that when they removed stress hormones in mice, their hair started growing again, even in older mice. 

This means stress doesn’t permanently harm your hair follicles; it just slows down their ability to grow new hair. When stress levels go down or are managed, your hair can get back to its normal growth cycle and treatments may help re-trigger growth by reactivating these hair follicle cells. However, it is important to understand that stress-related hair loss in some cases may uncover genetic hair loss which will require a more in-depth and long term treatment plan. 

Learn More: Understanding Hair Loss Causes and Clinically Proven Remedies

Types of stress-related hair loss

Stress can cause different types of hair loss, each with its own characteristics and effects on your hair. These three are the most common forms of stress-related hair loss: 

Telogen Effluvium

Telogen effluvium is the most common type of stress-related hair loss. When you’re stressed, it can push more hair into the resting phase, meaning it stops growing and eventually falls out. 

You might notice more hair coming out in the shower or when brushing your hair. This type is usually temporary, and your hair will grow back once the stress levels are under control or better managed. 

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where your immune system attacks your healthy hair follicles, leading to sudden bald patches. While genetics and other factors are behind Alopecia Areata, emotional stress or illness may trigger this unpredictable type of hair loss. It can affect your scalp, but it might also show up on your eyebrows or eyelashes. While it can be more severe, treatments can help, and hair often grows back over time

Trichotillomania

This is a condition where stress or anxiety makes people pull out their own hair, usually from the scalp, eyebrows, or eyelashes. Unlike other forms of hair loss, this is a behavioral issue caused by stress and anxiety. 

Over time, if it’s not treated, it can lead to more permanent hair loss. Therapy and stress management are often needed to help with this condition.

How do you know if hair loss is from stress?

for. If you’re experiencing sudden hair shedding, overall thinning (rather than bald spots), and the hair loss started after a particularly stressful event, prolonged illness or high fevers, stress may be the cause. 

Typically, stress-related hair loss happens a few months after a stressful event, and thinning is more widespread. If you suspect that stress is behind your hair loss, we recommend consulting with one of our hair loss doctors at Ziering Medical. 

Treatments for Stress-Related Hair Loss

aking simple steps like getting regular exercise, practicing yoga, doing breathing exercises, eating a healthy diet, staying hydrated, and getting enough sleep can make a big difference. 

Once stress is under control, advanced treatments at Ziering Medical can help reactivate dormant hair follicles and encourage new growth.

Z-Factors

Z-Factors is one of the newest and most advanced hair loss treatments available. This non-invasive treatment doesn’t require drawing blood or anesthesia and uses a blend of nanoparticles like growth factors, cytokines, peptides, and proteins that are applied directly to the scalp. 

These ingredients stimulate hair follicles, improve scalp health, and help slow down or reverse hair thinning. Z-Factors can strengthen weak or brittle hair and improve hair thickness without the inflammation often caused by other treatments like PRP.

KeraLase

The KeraLase treatment is a non-invasive hair restoration therapy that combines laser technology with a specialized KeraFactor® Serum. 

It stimulates the scalp by creating microchannels, allowing the serum’s growth factors and proteins to penetrate deeply, promoting hair growth and improving scalp health. 

Only available in our Beverly Hills Clinic, this  treatment is quick, with no downtime, and can be combined with other therapies like hair transplants. Multiple sessions are recommended for optimal results.

Laser Hair Therapy with the Z Cap

Laser therapy for hair loss is non-invasive, painless at-home treatment that uses low-level lasers to stimulate hair follicles, boost energy production, and combat hair loss caused by stress or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which is behind the most common cause of hair loss, Androgenic Alopecia or Pattern Hair Loss. 

The Z Cap should be worn every other day for 20 minute sessions at home or on the go. It’s a safe, convenient, and effective way to promote thicker, fuller hair without surgery for both men and women. 

ult A Hair Loss Specialist At Ziering Medical. 

If hair thinning is becoming a concern, consider booking a consultation at Ziering Medical. It’s important to get a handle on what is causing your hair loss. Sometimes stress-related hair loss may be unmasking genetic hair loss.  With any kind of hair loss, early diagnosis and intervention is key for optimal treatment outcomes. 

During your private consultation with our board-certified hair restoration experts, they will take a close look at your hair and scalp, talk through your goals, and customize a treatment that’s just for you and will give you the best results. 

Stop worrying about hair loss today. Call us to schedule your consultation. We serve patients all over the greater Tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut as well as the greater Southern California area from Los Angeles and Beverly Hills to Newport Beach and San Diego.