Does Stress Cause Hair Loss?
Jazmin Anderson
| 3 min read
Jazmin Anderson is a 2026 Corporate Communications i...
Key Takeaways
- Stress can trigger telogen effluvium, a temporary condition in which a large number of hair follicles enter the resting phase and shed, often months after a major physical or emotional stressor.
- Alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that causes sudden, patchy hair loss, has been linked to higher rates of anxiety and depression, suggesting stress may be a contributing factor.
- Managing stress through regular sleep, exercise, a balanced diet and mental‑health practices such as journaling or therapy can help prevent stress‑related hair loss, while most cases of telogen effluvium resolve on their own within about six months.
Stress is a natural part of life. Whether it stems from work, school or a specific event, everyone experiences it from time to time.
However, high levels of stress in your daily life can lead to various physical symptoms, such as hair loss. Learn more about the cause and what you can do.
Does stress cause hair loss?
Hair follicles go through three phases during the hair growth cycle, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). During the anagen phase, hair is actively growing. The catagen phase is a transitional period during which hair growth stops. During the telogen phase, hair follicles rest and shed old hair, entering the anagen phase again. Stress disrupts this system, causing excessive hair shedding.
Here are the types of hair loss stress can cause.
Telogen effluvium
According to Mayo Clinic, telogen effluvium occurs when significant stress triggers many hair follicles to enter the resting phase. Stressors must be significant to provoke this reaction, such as surgery, a high fever or childbirth. Within a few months of a stressful event, affected hair strands may suddenly fall out after combing and washing. The premature shift in follicle status occurs due to increased cortisol secretion and downstream inflammatory signaling.
Alopecia areata
A variety of factors are thought to trigger alopecia areata, one of them being stress, according to Mayo Clinic. This condition is caused by the immune system attacking hair follicles. A 5,435-member alopecia areata population-based cohort study found that those with alopecia areata had significantly higher rates of depression and anxiety compared to the control group.
In the United States, it affects about one in every 500 to 1,000 people and can develop as early as childhood.
Some of the symptoms of alopecia areata include:
- The skin under the hair loss area on the scalp is smooth, with no rashes or red bumps
- A lot of hair loss in a short amount of time
- More hair loss during cold weather
- Small patches of hair loss expand into larger bald areas
- Finger and toenails may become brittle or red
Treatment of stress-induced hair loss
According to Harvard Health, telogen effluvium is usually temporary and lasts about six months. New hair starts to grow immediately after the strands fall out, but it may take several months before the regrowth becomes noticeable.
There are no proven treatments for active telogen effluvium. Only time can help erase the effect of this type of hair loss.
Multiple treatments exist for alopecia areata, but with limited effectiveness, according to Harvard Health. Options include:
- Applying a cream containing a corticosteroid drug or minoxidil
- Injecting a corticosteroid drug directly into bald patches
- Exposing the bald areas to ultraviolet light
- Taking antiviral drugs
Be sure to consult your primary care provider before exploring any of these treatments.
How to manage stress
Another way to avoid stress-induced hair loss is by managing stress. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends taking good care of both your mental and physical health to mitigate stress.
Some beneficial practices for your mental health mind include:
- Taking periodical breaks from news and social media
- Journaling
- Medication
- Connecting with others
- Therapy with a licensed counselor or therapist
Some beneficial practices for your body include:
- Getting enough seven to nine hours of sleep per night.
- Exercising 30 minutes per day, five days a week.
- Eating a nutritious diet full of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean protein.
Image: Getty Images
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