Can mental stress cause hair loss?
Oct 14, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhu Gang
Introduction
Mental stress can cause hair loss. High work-related stress, lack of sleep, and similar factors may lead to endocrine disorders, resulting in conditions such as alopecia areata or telogen effluvium. Hair loss refers to the shedding of hair, broadly categorized into physiological and pathological types. It is recommended to maintain a balanced diet to ensure adequate nutrition, develop healthy lifestyle habits, and avoid staying up late and overexertion.
Mental stress can cause hair loss. Factors such as high work-related stress and insufficient sleep may lead to endocrine disorders, resulting in conditions like alopecia areata or telogen effluvium. Hair loss refers to the shedding of hair and is broadly categorized into two types: physiological and pathological hair loss.
I. Physiological Hair Loss
Losing fewer than 100 hairs per day, with even distribution across the scalp, is considered normal. Slight increases in hair shedding may occur due to mental stress, frequent perming or dyeing of hair, or excessive pulling on the hair. The shed hairs are typically those in the regression or resting phase, and new hair usually regrows after a period of time.
II. Pathological Hair Loss
This involves losing more than 100 hairs daily, patchy hair loss, or sudden massive shedding. Numerous factors can contribute to pathological hair loss, including genetics, immune system abnormalities, and hormonal imbalances.
1. Androgenetic Alopecia
Inflammation around hair follicles, increased life stress, tension, anxiety, and unhealthy lifestyle or dietary habits may exacerbate androgenetic alopecia. Oral medications include finasteride for men, and cyproterone acetate or spironolactone for women. Topical minoxidil is commonly used—5% concentration is recommended for men and 2% for women. For severe cases, hair transplantation may be considered.
2. Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata presents as sudden, round or oval patches of hair loss on the scalp. Hairs at the edge of the bald areas are loose and easily pulled out. Treatments include oral corticosteroids such as prednisone, intramuscular injections of compound betamethasone or triamcinolone, and topical corticosteroids such as halcinonide solution, halometasone cream, or mometasone cream. Physical therapies commonly used include ultraviolet radiation and photochemotherapy (PUVA).
3. Diabetes
Some patients with diabetes may also experience hair loss, primarily due to malnutrition. Hair follicles and hair shafts do not receive adequate nutrients, leading to hair shedding. It is important to actively manage the underlying condition and maintain blood glucose levels within the normal range.
It is recommended to maintain a balanced diet to ensure adequate nutrition, develop healthy sleep habits, and avoid staying up late or overexertion. Maintain a positive and optimistic mindset and avoid negative emotions such as anxiety and irritability. Individuals with excessive sebum production should avoid using strongly alkaline shampoos and should not wash their hair too frequently. Avoid frequent perming, dyeing, and tightly pulling back hair.
