The world is a stressful place right now thanks to the current COVID-19 pandemic, and one of the side-effects you might not have expected from that stress, is hair loss. On average, people lose between 50-100 strands of hair every day; however, if you’ve noticed that more than that amount is falling out lately then stress could be the reason. Here’s what you need to know to prevent it.
The impact of stress on hair
Any sort of physiological or emotional stress can have a negative impact on your hair, whether it’s divorce, bereavement, trouble at work, financial issues, or a worldwide pandemic. Perhaps unsurprisingly, many doctors are reporting that recent events have caused an increase in the number of patients coming to them with stress-related hair thinning.
The impact of stress on your hair often doesn’t manifest until many months after the trigger. It can stop your hair from growing, or even cause your white blood cells to attack your hair follicles. Thankfully, the symptoms are usually temporary and removing the source of stress generally results in hair recovery and returning to its normal cycle of growth.
How to deal with stress-related hair loss
What if you can’t remove the source of stress though? As with the current pandemic, stressful events are often outside of our control. Luckily, however, there are other steps you can take to minimise the impact of stress on your hair. In addition, if you’re worried about hair loss, you might want to consider talking to your doctor or a specialist hair loss clinic like hshairclinic.co.uk for advice.
One of the ways to reduce the effect of stress on your hair is to try mindfulness techniques such as meditation or breathing exercises. Transform your home into a comforting and positive space where you can relax to help reduce the tension in your body. It’s also a great idea to try and fit some activities into your day that make you happy, whether that’s a phone call with a friend or curling up on the sofa with a good book.
Good nutrition is also important, and you should be trying to include plenty of vitamins and minerals such as iron, omega-3, zinc, selenium, protein, vitamins A, C, E and K, plus B vitamins in your diet. Spinach, legumes, salmon, eggs, berries, sweet potatoes, nuts, and seeds are all fantastic sources, and you might also want to consider taking a supplement to ensure you’re getting everything you need.
Another factor is the way you treat your hair. Be gentle with it – don’t use too many heating tools or chemical dyes, avoid hairstyles that pull at the roots or twist your hair too much, turn down the temperature of the shower and don’t wash your hair too often. Even brushing your hair too much can cause damage. You might also want to consider using hair products especially designed for stimulating hair growth or boosting the thickness of your hair.
The most important thing is not to panic! Stress-related hair loss is usually temporary and treatable, meaning you’ll be back to your usual self in no time.