Depression and Chronic Stress - Can They Cause Hair Loss?

Yes, depression and excessive emotional or physical stress are linked to hair loss. Stress can prompt white blood cells to attack the hair follicles, causing alopecia. It can also push hairs into a prolonged resting phase, which is called telogen effluvium. Your hair loss should not be permanent and will likely grow back once you get your emotional health on track. I advise you to seek help for your psychological turmoil first and foremost.  Then, if your hair does not grow back in due time, consult a dermatologist.

Anxiety can trigger or worsen hair loss. The exact mechanisms of hair loss due to stress and anxiety are still underresearched. Some authors argue that it is the medication for anxiety that is to blame. Others suggest that hormonal changes of prolonged anxiety and stress affect the hair growth cycle.Yet, one thing is known for sure. Stress and physiological reactions associated with anxiety can and often do induce several types of hair loss.Psychotherapy, relaxation techniques and cognitive reframing can all help.

This account is requested to be deleted and legal actions against RealSelf.com are in progress.
Our apologies to patients, the doctor's contributions to this business are being deleted.
Please, remember it's always safer to see your doctor for concerns.

I personally believe that depression and chronic stress, both of which can alter hormone levels, play a role in hair loss. That being said, as hair loss is a very complicated subject and requires a hair evaluation and extensive discussion of the patient's history including medications, this question really should not be answered online. I recommend you consult with a board-certified dermatologist specializing in hair loss. 

stress is a noted accelerator of genetic hair loss and that would also apply to depression.  This is not a 100 percent rule however but if you are stressed and you see hair loss, then address your stress issues

Hair loss can clearly be caused by high levels of stress.  The hair loss phase is called telogen effluvium, and can cause partial or complete hair loss.  Your family M.D. needs to be consulted to help you with this, as well as even a Psychologist or Psychiatrist for situational stress treatment on occasion  My hope for you is that with proper treatment this condition will be reversed, but please be advised that I professionally had a patient  who did not have a reversal of hair loss.  Consider this as a recommendation to seek professional help sooner rather than later, if you would.

 

Good luck to you.

 

Frank Rieger M.D.  Tampa Plastic Surgeon