Could You Be Stressing Yourself to the Point Where Your Hair Falls Out?
Stress is a six letter word most of us have become very familiar with. In today’s fast paced, highly competitive world where we are expected to do less with more and be the best at everything - stress finds a way to creep its way into just about any area of life. Whether you're a stay at home mom trying to balance feedings and nap time with gatherings and cleaning, or a busy executive traveling more than you are home and struggling to meet deadlines - stress is everywhere.
Numerous studies have proven that stress can be directly related to weight gain in some people and can also lead to other health can wellness issues. But that same stress that is adding pounds to your midsection could also be the culprit behind your hair loss woes.
In an article published in the Sun Sentinel, Dr. Rochelle Torgerson describes how stress can possibly be linked to hair loss in some individuals and, depending on any other factors contributing to the loss, might even be reversible.
“Research on mice and human hair that has been grown in laboratories seems to show that stress may play a role in two specific kinds of hair loss: telogen effluvium and alopecia areata,” Dr. Torgerson writes.
In the example of telogen effluvium, which is the most common type of hair loss of those Dr. Torgerson named, hair is shed at a fast rate from all over the head and leads to an overall thinning of the hair, instead of baldness.
For new moms, hair loss is something that’s become expected since hormone level changes can trigger hair loss.
Alopecia areata, a different type of hair loss described by Dr. Torgerson involves chunks of hair loss from the scalp that leads to visible bald patches.
Keep an eye out for these happenings and remember to de-stress every chance you get. Take time for yourself to do something you enjoy - read a book, go for a walk, pick up an activity that will make you forget about your everyday stresses.
Hairfear - 10-29-2013
