Ho! Ho! No! Hair Loss and Stress

We love the holidays, but let’s face it, they have been known to stress people out. There’s a lot to do in a short period of time. From shopping, to navigating family issues and planning holiday travel and event, the season can be joyful but tricky. If you’re prone to stress you might feel it this time of year, but you may also be wondering if there’s any connection between stress and hair loss. At RHRLI, we want to make certain that our patients have as much information as possible about hair loss and thinning hair, so we thought we’d use holiday stress as a jumping off point for a discussion of stress and hair loss.

Experience The RHRLI Difference This Holiday Season

RHRLI is Long Island’s premier hair loss treatment center and we’re the only practice that offers the revolutionary robotic treatment called the ARTAS® System. It uses cutting edge technology to find healthy donor hair that will be transplanted with precision to where they’re needed. But the RHRLI Difference is more than just robotic technology. We give each patient individual attention and will spend the day with you as you undergo the ARTAS® procedure. We’ll give you the information you need and the care you deserve.

Conditions Related to Stress and Hair Loss

Stress can be a contributing factor to three conditions that cause hair loss, according to the Mayo Clinic. They are:

• Telogen effluvium
• Trichotillomania
• Alopecia areata

Telogen Effluvium is a temporary hair loss condition that usually happens after stress, shock or a traumatic event. The hair loss usually occurs on the scalp. Patients rarely lose all of their hair, and it’s considered to be a chronic condition if you experience periods of shedding for six months or more. Telogen effluvium is related to the growth cycle of hair. The resting phase of hair growth is called the telogen phase. Telogen effluvium occurs if this phase goes long.

Trichotillomania is essentially puling one’s hair repeatedly to such an extent that hair loss is noticeable. According to Mental Health America, Trichotillomania is classified as an impulse control disorder that affects 1 to 2 percent of adolescents and adults. It occurs more often among females and patients affected by the condition report feeling tense before they pull their hair and a sense of gratification when they pull it out. It’s not known what causes the condition which is treated with behavioral therapy and medication.

Alopecia areata is a type of hair loss that’s caused by an autoimmune disease. This means that your immune system, which is supposed to protect your body is actually attacking your body. In this case, the system is attacking your hair follicles, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. You can lose hair in patches on any part of your body, including the scalp.

RHRLI and ARTAS® Offer a Minimally Invasive Hair Loss Solution

Most of these conditions are temporary, although they can be permanent if they become long term problems. If you’re seeking a permanent solution of any kind, RHRLI has it with the ARTAS® procedure. It’s a minimally invasive procedure that doesn’t require sutures and scalpels and most patients report little to no pain. Give yourself a present this holiday season, contact us today.