Stress and hair loss

Everyone leaves a few locks of hair behind while in the shower. A little gross, but normal, right?

“It’s perfectly natural to lose some strands as part of the hair cycle,” said Allison Chan, MD, an internist with Baptist Primary Care.

There are about 100,000 hair follicles on a person’s scalp, so losing anywhere from 50 to 100 strands a day is normal and shouldn’t cause alarm.

However, there are instances when hair loss is considered abnormal.

“If you’re experiencing increased hair shedding, clumps of hair coming out or bald spots, you should make an appointment to see your primary care physician or a dermatologist,” said Dr. Chan.

At the root of hair loss

Dr. Chan stressed the importance of getting a professional opinion.

“You should definitely speak to your doctor before you try any of the products for hair growth and hair loss on the market. This isn’t just best practice, but it will likely save you from wasting your money on products that might not work,” said Dr. Chan.

Instead, Dr. Chan suggested working with your doctor to have your thyroid, iron, vitamin D and B12 levels checked. Buying all the hair vitamins in the world won’t help if the cause of your hair loss stems from having an unhealthy scalp, for example, and these tests will help you get to the root of the problem.

Sudden hair loss

There are many reasons why a person may experience hair loss. Sudden hair loss can be due to:

• Genetics
• Medications
• Infections
• Certain autoimmune diseases (alopecia areata, Graves’ disease)
• Stress, anxiety and depression
• Telogen effluvium (rapid hair loss due to shock or stressful events such as hospitalizations, delivery of a baby, car accidents, starvation)
• Age
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Low thyroid levels
• Hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause

Dr. Chan said not to worry if stress is the cause of your hair loss.

“The good news is that it usually grows back over time if stress was the underlying factor.”

Healthy hair hacks

To keep your locks looking luscious and to support hair growth, Dr. Chan recommended:

• Drinking plenty of water.
• Maintaining a healthy diet.
• Taking biotin, which is also known as vitamin H or B7 and found in foods like eggs, milk and bananas.
• Decreasing chemical damage caused by harsh hair dyes, bleach, relaxers and other treatments.
• Keeping the scalp clean, moisturized and free of dandruff.
• Avoid putting your hair into tight ponytails, buns or braids.