There are many reasons behind hair thinning, shedding, and hair loss. And these culprits are due to certain factors that can bring harmful effects such as Anxiety and stress.
What is Anxiety?
According to Medline Plus, Anxiety is "a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness. It might cause you to sweat, feel restless and tense, and have a rapid heartbeat. It can be a normal stress reaction. For example, you might feel anxious when faced with a difficult problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important decision. It can help you to cope. The Anxiety may give you a boost of energy or help you focus. But for people with anxiety disorders, the fear is not temporary and can be overwhelming."
What is Stress?
"Stress can be any change that causes physical, emotional, or psychological strain. Stress is your body's response to anything that requires attention or action. Everyone experiences stress to some degree. The way you respond to stress, however, makes a big difference to your overall well-being." as explained by World Health Organization.
How do Stress And Anxiety play a significant role in Hair Loss?
When you are stressed or anxious, the hormone cortisol is produced.
This hormone can negatively impact your hair growth cycle and the health of your hair follicles. Stress is one of the hair loss factors. It can also lead to a change in the texture and color of your hair. It can cause changes in the production of testosterone and estrogen, which are responsible for healthy hair growth.
When stressed, our body releases adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol, which stimulate the release of other hormones responsible for hair growth. However, when these hormones are released in excess amounts, they can cause problems with our body's ability to function normally.
Trichotillomania is compulsive hair pulling that results in thinning hair.
People react differently to stress. Trichotillomania is one of the behavior reactions during stressful and anxious situations. Its symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the condition. People with trichotillomania may have periods when they feel little or no urge to pull their hair out, followed by periods when they have intense cravings. The severity of symptoms also varies from person to person. Some people only pull out small amounts of hair at a time, while others pull out large amounts over time. Pulling out hairs can be done in several ways:
- Biting off individual strands of hair from the scalp or eyebrows.
- Rubbing or twirling strands between fingers until they break off.
- Picking at cuticles, nails, or skin around fingernails until they bleed or Pulling out entire clumps of hair.
Stress and Anxiety may increase Blood Sugar Levels
High sugar levels in the body may interfere with the healthy life cycle of hair. It can cause damage to blood vessels on the scalp. Restriction of blood flow results in cells not getting the right amount of oxygen and nutrients, eventually leading to hair loss.
Hair Loss treatments nowadays provide a solution to ease the stress and anxiety of the patient. Mind diversion is the simplest way to try if you're dealing with some issues above. Though restoring hair is not a one-day quest, rest assured that it is possible with the proper education, medication, and real-life experience from hair loss enthusiast.
