REGAINE^® should only be used for the treatment of hereditary hair loss. Do not use REGAINE^® to treat hair loss that has been caused purely by emotional stress. Remember to always seek advice from a healthcare professional first, before treating any hair loss.

 

Emotional Stress

Can emotional stress cause hair loss?

Ever heard phrases related to hair falling out in reference to someone being really stressed? It turns out this phrase might be more significantly rooted in science than we originally thought…

Many people underestimate the effects of stress on the body, brushing it off as a strictly emotional condition. But stress can manifest in the form of serious physical symptoms – including increased shedding or hair loss. If you’ve experienced some form of emotional or physical stress in the last six months, and you’ve noticed some increased hair shedding or what looks like the beginning of male pattern baldness, there’s a chance you could be experiencing stress-induced hair loss.

 

Stress-related hair loss

If your hair loss is linked with stress, it is quite likely that you are experiencing a condition called Telogen effluvium. This is when some kind of trauma sends your hair follicles into the shedding phase, causing more hair to fall out than you might be used to. As mentioned, this is the most common type of stress-related hair loss, but luckily, it’s only temporary.

 

Hereditary hair loss and stress

While stress alone is unlikely to be the trigger of hereditary hair loss (that domain belongs to genetics, age and hormones), being under significant emotional stress can cause existing hair loss to accelerate.

Hereditary hair loss primarily involves gradual and consistent thinning of the hair in certain areas of the scalp, while stress-induced hair loss usually manifests in high levels of shedding.

Experiencing both shedding and thinning at the same time can have a serious effect on self-esteem, and even make it look like you’re losing your hair at a more alarming rate. If you’re suffering from both, it’s important that you address your stress levels and seek treatment for hereditary hair loss too.

If you are looking for medicinal treatment options, remember to always talk to your pharmacist or healthcare professional first.