Stress-induced hair loss in women may be due to myriad causes, including recent changes in medication, physical stress (weight changes, recovery from surgery) or emotional duress. By tracing the onset, duration and experience of your hair loss, you can gain insight into your condition and seek professional help, as needed.
Healthy Hair Loss
The average head loses between 100 and 125 hairs per day, but they are gradually replaced. When hairs beyond this quantity are lost, one experiences thinning hair and, in some cases, partial baldness. Hair loss can be an inevitable result of medical treatment, as in chemotherapy, which attacks cancer cells but inadvertently hurts hair follicles. This type of hair loss, known as anagen effluvium, need not be permanent.
Stress and Hair Growth
Emotional and physical stress can also interfere with hair regrowth, such that follicles can remain dormant for months. This condition, known as telogen effluvium, can extend for years, long past an initial stressful event (pregnancy, surgical recovery, grieving). Adapting stress reduction techniques such as visualization or meditation may help women recover from these experiences and thereby reduce or reverse the hair loss.
Hair and Hormones
In some cases, perceived stress is worsened by hormonal imbalances, leading to a hair loss condition known as andogenetic alopecia. All women contain androgens, which are male hormones that are typically present in very small amounts. When the amount increases even slightly---while taking birth control pills, during pregnancy or menopause, or when dealing with conditions such as ovarian cysts---hair loss can result. Based on family history, some women may be predisposed to this kind of hair loss.
Hairstyle Stress
Periods of stress can lead to overmanipulation of the hair and strain on the follicles. While wearing wigs and coloring hair does not cause hair loss, maintaining tight hairstyles can damage the hair, leading to a condition known as traction alopecia. Long-term use of hair weaves may also damage hair follicles. Varying hairstyles and regular haircuts can prevent this condition from occurring.
Medicines and Hair Loss
The American Hair Loss Association (AHLA) notes that many medications have hair loss as a side effect, including the warfarin group of blood thinners, antidepressants such as Prozac and Zoloft, appetite suppressants that contain amphetamines, mood-stabilizing medications such as Lithium and Depakote (often prescribed for bipolar conditions), high blood pressure medications such as Tenormin and Lopressor, and medications for hormonal replacement therapy and birth control. In particular, the AHLA recommends using birth control pills with a lower proportion of androgens. However, when seeking out medical alternatives, use common sense---do not self-diagnose, and change dosages or drugs only under the care of your primary care physician.
Hair Loss Red Flags
Abrupt hair loss may be the sign of a thyroid imbalance or condition such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, and should be referred to a primary care physician. While Rogaine has been approved by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration as a topical application for women's hair loss, interested parties should seek professional guidance before usage.
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