A recent article described how stress is affecting more millennials than ever, and one of the side effects is hair loss and hair thinning. The younger generation is under stress due to paying off student loans, finding a job and getting health insurance. In fact, the availability (or lack thereof) of mental health care weighs heavily on millennials. What’s more, And the icing on the proverbial cake: Millennials are stressing about relationships – finding love and maybe even getting married.
Stress in the body
And yes, stress can be the cause of hair loss and hair thinning in men and women of all ages. Divorce, a death in the family, job loss or change – these can all be events putting more-than-usual amounts of stress on you. Stress causes an increased production of adrenaline in the body, which is then converted into cholesterol that can raise testosterone levels. Testosterone has been shown to have major effect on hair growth. Other hormone levels in your body may fluctuate as well.
In addition, when we are under stress, it often affects our diet and immune system. When we’re under a ton of stress, we often lose focus of self-care. Skipping meals or eating more fast food can create a nutritional imbalance or even a deficiency.
Stress and your hair
You may notice sudden or patchy hair loss or changes like dandruff and dry scalp when under stress. You may also notice more hair shedding when you wash and brush your hair.
The good news is that hair loss and hair shedding related to stress can be temporary. If you can find your stress trigger and get your stress levels under control, you’ll see positive results in your hair and skin.
How to manage stress
What do we do to manage stress? Everyone is different when it comes to getting their stress under control. For some, something as simple as listening to music can relieve stress, while others need a more physical outlet like running or going to the gym. Other stress relievers include meditation, yoga and praying.
A healthy diet can also help to counter and manage stress. Certain foods can help lower blood pressure and build up the immune system. Look for foods that are high in iron, protein and Vitamin C to add to your diet. Taking a hair growth supplement loaded with hair-loss fighting vitamins and nutrients is an easy solution. In addition, stay away from artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, which has been cited as a cause of hair thinning. Food additives can have a negative effect as well.
When our stress is under control and our body is in balance, it shows outwardly. Our skin glows, our hair is shinier and thicker.