If you’ve been juggling a lot on your plate and have noticed that you’re shedding a little more than usual, it’s okay to be alarmed. As a matter of fact, shedding is one of the most common side-effects of stress there is so when you see your hair fall increasing, it may be time to dial back a bit. But what exactly causes your hair to shed and how do you reduce stress-related hair loss?
What You Need to Know About Shedding
The typical amount of hairs we shed per day is somewhere around 100 strands. Shedding is caused by the end of the hair growth cycle for that certain strand of hair and, usually, it’s not a noticeable amount. Once the amount of hair fall increases, there has been a hormonal change within the body that causes a disproportionate amount of hairs to shed at the same time. An increase in hair fall can also be linked to disease, medications, and nutritional deficiencies, so it’s best to contact your doctor if you’ve noticed a drastic change in the amount of hair you shed.
How Stress Relates To Hair Loss
Physiological and emotional are two different types of stress, physiological being the one that effects the functions of the body. If you’ve changed medicines, lost a significant amount of weight, suffer from a severe illness, have had major surgery or are on a very restrictive diet, those are some factors that can cause stress-related hair loss. However, emotional stress can also lead to physiological stress which is something that can’t typically be avoided. Studies have shown that if you’re going through something that takes an emotional toll such as a divorce or grieving, that they can cause a rift in your eating habits as well as change your willingness to follow your normal routine which will, as a result, put stress on the body.
How to Prevent Stress-Related Hair Loss
Preventing stress-related hair loss is kind of tricky since a lot of people don’t even realize that their body is under stress. One of the key things to keep in mind is to keep track of your regimen and make sure that you keep it constant. Any change in your medication, diet, workload and emotional state could trigger stress-related hormones that can lead to shedding. Another way to deal with an increase in hair fall is to try different stress-reducing techniques such as meditation, yoga, slow breathing or moderate exercise. These activities can help reduce any emotional and even physical stresses that your body may be experiencing.
While you shouldn’t jump to any conclusions about an increase in hair fall, you should sit back and take a look at what you’ve changed that may be causing your shedding. It could be something as simple as increasing your vegetable intake or drinking more water, but don’t hesitate to seek a professional opinion if the hair loss is excessive.
