Stress can slow down hair growth

The main organ responsible for regulating the stress levels in the body is your adrenal glands.

These are located at the upper area of your kidneys.

Stress can sometimes cause hair loss. During threats like a fire emergency in your workplace, your adrenal glands are overworking. During this period, stress hormones called adrenaline and cortisol are secreted into the bloodstream to boost your concentration and energy level. This is the reason why you can lift or push aside heavy objects out of your way and jump two stairs to the exit gate without flinching. This body state is best known as adrenaline rush and it allows you to do things you cannot do under normal circumstances.

Apart from the stress hormones, adrenal glands also produce androgens. As you know, androgens, such as testosterone, have direct influence on the growth of healthy hair.

Although testosterone is known as a male sex hormone, it is also present in females in controlled levels. Normal levels of testosterone stimulate development of hair follicles and affect the type of hair growth on the scalp, face and pubic areas.

Stress hormone production is beneficial only in short-term situations. But when there is exposure of your body to internal and external stressors, over a prolonged period, the sustained increase of cortisol in the blood can disrupt the levels of other hormones. This condition can lead to adrenal fatigue. During this state, your adrenal glands fail to produce and balance the optimum level of hormones It is normal for you to be under stress. Your body needs it to keep your coping mechanisms in check. But if you run your fingers through your hair and see several strands on your hands, that could mean something else.

One of the negative effects of adrenal fatigue is the increased concentration of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). As discussed before, DHT is a derivative of testosterone. High DHT shrinks your hair follicles, which slows down hair growth. In severe cases, it causes direct damage to follicles, making it impossible for your hair to strive. As a result, you will suffer severe hair loss, or worse, baldness.

As I have been emphasising in my other articles, the main key to avoiding hair loss is prevention.

I have shared with you the importance of self-care.

This should not stop at hygiene or proper grooming. Another area that you should look into is your emotional state. Is your work causing you a lot of stress? Are you experiencing a family conflict? Are you having financial problems? Your state of mind can contribute to external stressors. You must know when to take a pause when you feel overworked.

A balanced lifestyle means having eight hours of sleep, eating a nutritious diet, drinking six to eight glasses of clean water and doing gentle exercise for at least 30 minutes daily.

You may be having a balanced lifestyle, but if you are depressed or having troubled thoughts, stress can still catch up with you. It is important that you maintain a positive outlook.

Also, you should try to do some relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises once in a while.

If you are suffering from severe hair loss or baldness already, it is best to visit a trichologist before a cosmetologist.

Trichologists, as yours truly, are healthy hair and scalp doctors who can best address your urgent concerns about your hair. We are holistic care practitioners who aim to give the most effective advice. We understand that this journey is quite taxing especially for someone who has experienced severe hair loss for the first time. This is the reason why, even though providing care for hair loss is our top priority, it is also important for us to keep our emotional wellbeing.