The Connection of Pandemic Stress and Hair loss

It's not surprising that you put a lot of effort into taking care of your hair. Various products promise for it to glow, shine, and be as smooth as silk. For men, you might have noticed your shower floors with strands of hair if there are living with a woman, making it normal for you when you notice that your hair is shedding. According to Healthline's interview with San Francisco Dermatologist Dr. Andrea Hui, both men and women as young as 18 years of age are already asking for help against hair loss.

(Photo : Martin Slavoljubovski )

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Healthline emphasized that both men and women may experience hair loss in their life that can be caused by stress. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Dermatologist Dr. Ohara Aivaz said in an interview with Medical Xpress that she recently had patients coming in with concern of stress-related hair loss that told her worrying about dying early this year or they had COVID-19. Unfortunately, she added that they do not see the effects until three months later. She further said that it frustrates the patients because the stress has been resolved. However, the physical manifestation is happening lately.

Why does this happen?

According to Medical Xpress, experts states that stress-related hair loss usually occurs three months or more after a stressful event. The reason why it takes that long is not yet clear. However, they added that the body might prematurely force hair into the dormant phase of its growth cycle, which causes the shrinking of hair roots and falling out.

Mayo Clinic mentions a kind of hair loss that is related to high-stress levels. One is Alopecia Areata, where high stress affects the immune system's performance triggering it to attack the hair follicles resulting in hair loss. Second is Telogen Effluvium, which, according to Medical News Today, is totally reversible. They added that a person with this condition does not lose all the hair, but it may become noticeably thin. Mayo Clinic added that a significant amount of stress pushes a vast number of hairs to go in the resting phase, which causes sudden hair fall when combing and washing your hair. The third is Trichotillomania. Also known as trich National Health Service (NHS) is a condition where someone can't resist the urge to pull out their hair. They added that people with trich feels relief after pulling their hair out. Mayo Clinic further said that can help people deal with negative or uncomfortable feelings such as tension, stress, frustration, boredom, and loneliness.

Expert's Advice

In the interview, Dr. Aivaz said that if an individual is experiencing hair loss, consider going for a check-up to know if he or she has thyroid issues or anemia. She added that if stress is causing the problem, time, and hair loss supplements can help. She also further said in the interview that removing the trigger, causing the stress level to diminish. Over time, hair loss stops on its own. The hair will also grow back because the follicles are still active and healthy. Mayo Clinic also added that patchy hair loss when combing and washing your hair requires medical attention. They stressed that sudden hair loss could mean an underlying condition that needs treatment.

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) mentioned several steps to relieve the stress, especially amid pandemic. They said that learning to practice relaxation techniques, regular exercise, seeking professional help, getting a balanced diet, and treating your hair can prevent hair loss caused by pandemic stress.

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