Hair loss and stress can occur due to various different reasons. For example, a person can suffer from medical conditions that affect their hormones, like endometriosis, or from a condition called thyroid disorder.
Genetic abnormalities that involve the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus can also cause loss of hair.
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Origins, Causes and Types of Hair Loss
When hair loss or hair thinning is a result of a medical condition, it is known as androgenetic alopecia. At the same time, if a hereditary condition causes hair loss, it is referred to as alopecia areata.
If both a medical condition and a hereditary condition are involved, then the condition is called alopecia hereditaria. There is also a condition known as alopecia totalis, which affects only women, and is caused by an overproduction of male hormones, and a condition known as alopecia universalis, which affects both sexes and causes hair to fall out in large patches.
Genetic defects also cause loss of hair. Someone can inherit these defects, or an external stimulus can cause them. For example, if a man has a condition called alopecia areata, caused by an overproduction of androgens in the body. This overproduction may lead to the loss of hair on his head.
If the person has a genetic abnormality in the thyroid gland, which causes a deficiency in hormones, there is an ample chance a person will also suffer from hair loss due to the shortage of the hormones in the body.
Loss of hair can also be caused by an injury that has caused damage to the hair. For instance, if you suffer an injury to one or both of your eyebrows, the loss of hair can often be extreme.
Even if the injury is minor, if it does not heal, there can be permanent scarring that can make the problem worse. It is also possible for the loss to be permanent as some hair follicles that are damaged cannot grow again.
Relationships between Hair Loss and Stress
Stress has been proven to cause hair to fall out. Studies have shown a person who experiences stress loses more hair than a person who is not stressed. This observation applies to male and female.
Other studies have shown men experience more hair loss after suffering from a physical injury than do women. Conversely, other studies have even found individuals who have low levels of stress in their bodies lose their hair more frequently than those who have high stress levels.
In addition to stress causing hair to fall out, other factors that may also cause hair to fall out are smoking and depression. Both of these factors can lead to low blood circulation to the scalp.
These factors can cause the hair to fall out faster because fewer nutrients are getting to the roots, and therefore more are being used to replace the lost ones. Hair loss is a common problem for people who smoke and have depression as well. So be careful if you are a smoker and appear depressed!
Stress can cause many other problems with the body as well. It can cause problems that can lead to high blood pressure, muscle spasms and muscle pain.
When a person is under stress, the immune system may not fight off infections, and the body’s cells will become weak. Poor functioning of the immune system can affect hair growth. Here is another inevitable link between stress and loss of hair.
Can Hair Loss and Stress Be Treated?
Hair loss and stress can both be treated. When both a medical condition and a hereditary condition are involved, it may be necessary to consult a doctor and a specialist who can recommend the best course of action.