08/07/2024
Clients always ask me: "Why Stress Causes Hair Loss' so here is the answer to this question as a Certified Trichologist...
Why Stress Causes Hair Loss: The Role of Cortisol
Cortisol, often referred to as the body's stress hormone, plays a significant role in hair loss when levels are elevated due to chronic stress. Elevated cortisol disrupts the hair growth cycle in several ways:
• Telogen Effluvium: High cortisol levels can cause hair follicles to enter a resting phase prematurely, leading to telogen effluvium, a condition where hair falls out in large amounts.
• Hormonal Imbalance: Cortisol can disrupt the balance of hormones like testosterone and estrogen, which are crucial for hair growth and maintenance.
• Inflammation: Cortisol can cause inflammation in the body, including the scalp.
Since the global pandemic, our way of life has dramatically shifted, and stress levels have soared. This heightened stress disrupts the hair's natural growth cycle, leading to excessive shedding and hair loss.
Understanding the connection between cortisol and hair loss is essential. Finding an accredited Trichology Clinic is the most crucial first step in stopping further loss and beginning your regrowth journey to a healthy scalp and hair. There is an overwhelming amount of misinformation about hair loss from various sources, but no one is better educated in hair loss matters than a Certified Trichologist at Hair Loss Solutions with over 22 years experience.
Visit www.hairlosssolutionsnow.com to book a consultation with our experts today!
*Consultation cost is $75, which goes towards the program we decide on together.
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The Deep Dive: What is Cortisol?
Cortisol is a steroid hormone, one of the glucocorticoids produced in the cortex of the adrenal glands. It is released into the bloodstream and transported throughout the body, affecting various cells differently. Cortisol's functions include:
• Regulating blood sugar levels and metabolism
• Acting as an anti-inflammatory
• Influencing memory formation
• Controlling salt and water balance
• Regulating blood pressure
All these functions make cortisol a crucial hormone for overall health and well-being.
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How Hormones and Hair Loss Are Connected
Extended stress leads to prolonged periods of high cortisol levels. While the adrenal glands are busy producing extra cortisol, they produce fewer hormones that support healthy hair growth. Sustained high cortisol levels can lead to various health problems, including decreased cell regeneration, impaired mental function, decreased metabolism, and a weakened immune system.
Cortisol affects the function and cyclic regulation of hair follicles. During stress, cortisol dysregulation can disrupt cell signaling, and oxidative stress can interfere with the hair growth cycle's normal transitions. In-vitro studies have shown that pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), interleukin (IL)-1α, and IL-1β, cause the formation of vacuoles within hair matrix cells and abnormal keratinization of the inner root sheath and follicle bulb. These cytokines also disrupt follicular melanocytes and promote melanin granule formation within the dermal papilla, disturbing the hair cycle and causing premature arrest.
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Types of Hair Loss Associated with High Cortisol Levels
1. Telogen Effluvium (TEL-o-jun uh-FLOO-vee-um): When a significant amount of stress pushes large numbers of hair follicles into a resting phase. Within a few months, affected hairs might fall out suddenly when simply combing or washing hair, leading to excess sudden shedding.
2. Trichotillomania (trik-o-til-o-MAY-nee-uh): This is an irresistible urge to pull hair out from the scalp, eyebrows, or other areas of the body. Hair pulling can be a way of dealing with negative or uncomfortable feelings, such as stress, tension, loneliness, boredom, or frustration.
3. Alopecia Areata (al-o-PEE-she-uh ar-e-A-tuh): When the body's immune system attacks the hair follicles, causing hair loss. This is thought to be caused by a variety of factors, possibly including severe stress, which also leads to high levels of cortisol resulting in patchy, eraser- to silver-dollar-sized areas of hair loss.