Stress is a primary factor in alopecia, a condition where hair is lost on areas of the body that normally have hair. Alopecia comes in many forms and affects approximately 1% of the population. Stress and alopecia work in a cycle, and while there is no cure, treatments such as stress-reducing medications and hair growth medications can be beneficial.
The term alopecia refers to hair loss or lack of hair on areas of the body that normally have hair. Stress is one of the main inducers of alopecia. A healthy adult will lose 30 to 200 hairs a day. This number can be greatly increased by stress. While stress is not the only factor in this condition, it is a primary factor. Any form of stress, be it physical, emotional or mental, can lead to this condition. The condition can be seen in all demographics and affects approximately 1% of the population.
Alopecia comes in many forms. Some of the main forms include Alopecia areata, Alopecia totalis, Alopecia universalis and Alopecia barbae. Areata refers to a condition in which patches of hair are lost all over the body. Totalis refers to complete hair loss on the scalp, while Universalis refers to complete hair loss all over the body. Alopecia barbae refers to the loss of the facial area, usually around the beard area for a man.
How stress triggers can cause this condition varies from person to person. Stress and alopecia are related and any type of stressor can result in this medical condition. Examples include a wide range of situations, from the death of a family member to extreme physical training. The physical stresses caused by the disease can also contribute.
The reason for hair loss is basically the body’s defense mechanism. The body will interrupt processes it deems unimportant at the moment to deal with other important factors it is currently dealing with. In cases of stress and alopecia, the body stops producing hair so that it can deal with the stress trigger.
Stress and alopecia work in a cycle. Stress is the inducer of alopecia. When the condition occurs, a person will become stressed about the condition and the new stress will make the condition worse. The cycle then continues: The more stress a person becomes about the condition, the worse they become.
The condition cannot be cured, but there are treatments available that can cause hair to grow back. Because of the connection between stress and alopecia, stress-reducing medications and behavioral therapies might help some with the condition. A doctor should be consulted for the proper treatments in this area. Medications to promote hair growth have been shown to be beneficial for some people. Some options include finasteride, which specifically targets hair loss in men; ointments such as anthralin that are applied daily to the affected area; and cortisone injections, which are typically given monthly.
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