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Everyone experiences stress, and there’s even more of it this year with all the challenges of 2020. If you’ve recently experienced hair loss, you may be wondering if all the stress had anything to do with it. We’ve talked with our expert hair loss consultants here at Hair Restoration Institute to find out if that’s true.
 

First of all, what is stress exactly?

We use the word stress a lot, and we know what it feels like. Most of the time, stress hits you suddenly, and you experience anxiety and other feelings that can sometimes be overwhelming. Simply put, stress is a response to danger. It’s the way your body prepares you to either stand up and fight whatever is causing that danger or run away from it. To do that, you need instant energy, so your brain triggers a stress response that delivers that energy instantly so you’re ready to fight or flee.
 

Normally, you’ll respond well to a real threat, like escaping a fire, and calm down once the danger has passed. But in our modern society, even things that aren’t life-threatening can cause a stress response, like having to make a speech or being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic when you’re already late for work. Because these types of stressors happen often, your body may experience the stress response frequently.
 

What happens in the stress response?

When your brain perceives a threat, it sends messages to your body instantly to release hormones, cortisol, and adrenaline, that get the fight-or-flight response going. The purpose is to give you instant energy and muscles that are ready to spring into motion, so your heart rate and blood pressure increase, your muscles tense up, and you get a rush of blood sugar for energy. Because this happens often, we experience the physical effects of stress often. 
 

How does that affect hair growth?

That rush of hormones may affect hair growth in two ways. The resting phase is a natural part of the hair growth cycle, but normally other hairs are in the growth phase, so it’s not a problem. But in one condition called telogen effluvium, your hair goes into the resting phase for too long. As a result, more hair is lost than is restored, causing thinning. With another condition called alopecia areata, your immune system attacks your hair follicles so they can no longer grow hair. Stress is thought to be a contributing factor. 
 

This year has been particularly stressful overall. With all the worries about COVID-19 and its effects on our jobs, families, friends, and communities, many people are living with excess stress right now. And for those who have become sick with COVID-19, studies have shown that some people who were sick are losing hair at an alarming rate. 
 

What can I do about my hair loss from stress or illness?

If the stress of this year or illness with the virus is causing hair loss for you, there is help for you at the Hair Restoration Institute. Our expert hair loss professionals have a variety of options for you to stimulate growth or restore thicker, natural hair using the latest groundbreaking tools and techniques, such as:
 

• MEP 90 Clinical Laser Treatments. The MEP 90 is approved by the FDA as a hair regrowth device. It’s a non-surgical, non-invasive treatment for female pattern baldness that is up to 98% effective at restoring hair growth. 
• PRP Treatments. This treatment uses your own blood platelets, which promote cell growth in your body, to stimulate hair growth. It’s a safe, non-surgical hair loss treatment option that is particularly suited to those who are not hair transplantation candidates. 
• HRI Hair Therapy products. Our exclusive line of physician-formulated hair loss control products is formulated to care for your scalp and optimize hair growth. Your Hair Restoration Institute hair loss professional will prescribe the right products for your needs. 
• And many more
   

The first step in taking control of your hair loss is a free confidential consultation with one of our hair loss experts. Make an appointment today at the Hair Restoration Institute. Our hair loss professionals will take a full assessment of your hair loss concerns, your overall health, and the extent of hair loss and develop a customized treatment plan to help you get thicker, natural-looking hair again. 
 

You can find us at 8030 Old Cedar Ave S #202 in Bloomington MN or at 1201 West Lancaster Avenue in Fort Worth, Texas, or call 612-588-HAIR (4247) in Minnesota or 817-854-HAIR (4247) in Dallas/Fort Worth for a complimentary consultation. Schedule online for a virtual consultation appointment with our MN location or request an in-person consultation appointment in the Dallas Fort Worth area.