Long Island 
What does it mean when a man loses hair? Even though most men will lose some – or all – of their hair at some point in their lifetime, hair loss can have a psychological impact. A full head of hair is often associated with youth, health, and vitality. When balding occurs, a man’s self-image can take a serious hit. Studies show that hair loss is associated with decreased confidence, lowered self-esteem, and even depression, stress, or anxiety.
Emotional stress and anxiety can in turn exact a toll on the body and on the scalp, causing additional hair loss. Breaking this vicious cycle may be difficult, but the health of your hair (and your health in general) depends on it.
Can Stress and Anxiety Cause Hair Loss?
The link between a man’s mental and physical well-being is a profound one. Stress and anxiety negatively impact physical health and appearance, including the health and appearance of one’s hair. Stress can lead to hair loss in several ways: by disrupting the hair’s growth cycle, by triggering hair-destroying autoimmune issues, and by sparking behaviors that damage the hair.
What Does Stress Hair Loss Look Like?
Stress-related hair loss generally occurs as diffuse shedding throughout the scalp. This is called telogen effluvium – a condition where stress disrupts the hair’s growth cycle, pushing larger than normal numbers of follicles into their resting phase. The excess shedding and poor regrowth of telogen effluvium cause hair to look thinner and less healthy.
Stress may also trigger the immune system to attack the hair follicles. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that causes hair to fall out in round, coin-sized patches. These bald spots may expand in size and eventually overlap.
Sometimes, stress can literally cause us to pull out our own hair. Trichotillomania is a nervous hair-pulling habit that results in thinning hair or balding spots on the scalp or elsewhere on the body where the hairs are being plucked out.
Is Hair Loss from Stress Permanent?
There is a very good chance your stress-related hair loss may be reversible. It typically takes between six to nine months to regrow hair lost to stress, provided you reduce your stress levels and address the health of your body and scalp.
A notable exception to this is when stress exacerbates a form of permanent hair loss like androgenic alopecia. This type of hair loss may be slowed with treatment but, if it progresses, you may wish to consider a surgical hair restoration procedure to fill in your hairline.
How Can I Stop My Hair From Falling Out Due to Stress?
The most effective way to halt stress-related hair loss is to reduce your stress levels. This may not be the easiest task, but your hair and your health depend on it.
If necessary, work with a therapist or physician to address underlying psychological issues and help you better cope with the stressors in your life. While you work on your mind, treat your body well by exercising regularly, getting plenty of sleep, and eating a balanced diet.
To protect your remaining hair and to encourage maximum regrowth, consider treatments like platelet-rich plasma or stem cell therapy that can aid in reversing the effects of telogen effluvium.
Contact LA FUE Hair NYC About Stress-Related Hair Loss
LA FUE Hair NYC understands stress-related hair loss and can help you choose the treatments that best meet your needs. We are happy to answer any questions you have and to assist you in setting your hair restoration goals. Take that first step to a thicker, fuller head of hair, and contact us today to set up a complimentary consultation.