Hair loss and stress and very closely related and it's not just for us common folks! Tyra Banks admitted she experienced hair loss during the stressful period of time while preparing her first novel, Modelland. The "America's Next Top Model" creator told The Wall Street Journal, “In the beginning it was me trying to fit it in. I was staying in Lake Como shooting “Top Model” and I was working on it in the off days. It was a passion, so the discipline wasn’t hard. It was finding the time that was hard, and that was stressing me out and I felt the product was suffering." It was difficult for Banks to relax and she went on to say in the interview, "In hindsight that wasn’t healthy. How can I say this without tearing up? I got a little alopecia from the stress.”
Oh no! Not the hair! Ladies, we have got to figure out how to take better care of our hair, while accomplishing all of our many responsibilities. Alopecia, along with other hair disorders, are real and sometimes can be permanently damaging if not dealt with appropriately.
Types of stress-related hair loss
First, it's important to understand the different types of stress related hair loss:
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Telegen Effluvium
This disorder puts your hair in what I'd like to call a hair coma. Essentially, the stress that your body is under puts several of your hair follicles into a resting phase, keeping it from growing. After an extended period of time those same hair follicles weaken and suddenly fall out.
Alopecia Areata
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This disorder deals with your immune system, which is meant to protect the body from disease, viruses and bacteria. When the body is under stress, the immune system can sometimes attack itself, and in this case, it attacks your hair follicles. This leads to hair loss often in small patches.
Trichotillomania
This is a disorder that causes self-inflicted harm. It causes someone to compulsively pull their own hair out from any part of their own body. According to Mayo Clinic doctor Daniel K. Flavin, "Hair pulling can be a way of dealing with negative or uncomfortable feelings, such as stress, tension, loneliness, boredom or frustration."
Prevention
None of us want to experience these types of hair issues, but unfortunately, many of us do. Here are some quick tips to try and keep your hair, scalp and stress in check.
1. See a doctor. If you feel that you are experiencing any of these disorders, the first step should be an expert. They can properly diagnose you, and if severe enough can possibly offer you medication to help counteract the ailment.
2. Healthier diet. Re-evaluate your current eating habits. Are the foods you are eating contributing to your stress? Are they not benefiting your hair growth? Try to maintain at least 3 healthy well-balanced meals a day, that are high in protein, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Stay away from processed and sugary foods!
3. Exercise. "Exercise reduces levels of the body’s stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. It also stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that are the body’s natural painkillers and mood elevators", as stated in an Harvard Health Publications article that discusses aerobic exercise and its benefits to relieving stress. You should try it if you haven't! I even like to just take my dog for a long walk some days. Getting your body moving and the fresh are, it really clears your mind!
4. Sleep. Beauty sleep is real, and its not just for your face, but for your heart and mind as well! I personally prefer to get to bed early, so that I may rise early and get my day started. You may also find doing this relieves stress of feeling unproductive. I know when I wake up early, I feel that I can accomplish more in the day!
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