Can Stress Cause Hair Loss?

Summary: Have you noticed more hair in your hairbrush lately? Stress might be the sneaky culprit. When you are super stressed, your body pumps out a hormone called cortisol. This puts your hair follicles into a "resting phase." Plus, your body is smart. It knows your heart and lungs are more important than your hair, so it sends all its energy to your vital organs instead of growing your locks.

Stress comes in many forms, like poor sleep, illness, or rapid weight loss. This can lead to different types of hair loss. The most common is telogen effluvium, where lots of hair falls out months after a stressful event. Stress can also trigger patchy hair loss (alopecia areata) or the urge to pull your own hair out to cope (trichotillomania).

The good news? It usually grows back! See a doctor to rule out other issues like a thyroid problem or nutrient deficiency, and try managing your stress with yoga, better sleep, or therapy.

For more details, see clevelandclinic at health.clevelandclinic.org/can-stress-cause-hair-loss (opens in new tab)