Many of us have come to understand there are multiple factors that lead to hair loss. The most obvious of which is hereditary. If our siblings, parents, or grandparents experience male or female pattern baldness… there’s a good chance we will experience some level of that as well.
We also understand that outside environmental factors could come into play as well as certain illnesses.
While physical illnesses can certainly affect our hair health (as a result of malnourishment or our body’s own immune system mistakenly attacking our hair follicles), our mental health can affect our hair health too. But what is the link between mental health and hair loss?
Can Depression Cause Hair Loss?
So far there have been no studies that show a direct link between depression and hair loss. However, it is clear that there are many indirect links to depression leading to hair loss.
Many people that suffer from chronic depression also experience fatigue, malnourishment, and a lack of exercise. If we aren’t getting the vitamins and minerals our hair needs to be healthy (as well as proper blood flow through exercise to get those nutrients to our hair follicles), over time we could experience some hair thinning and loss.
Can Anxiety Cause Hair Loss?
Unlike depression, anxiety and stress can play a more direct role in hair thinning and loss. In fact, there are three types of hair loss in which stress is a factor: telogen effluvium, trichotillomania, and alopecia areata.
Telogen effluvium is a type of hair loss caused by extreme stress pushing the hair follicles into the resting phase prematurely. That results in more shedding, leading to hair temporary hair thinning that could become more permanent if it goes untreated.
Trichotillomania is a stress-related disorder where one pulls at their hair, damaging the hair follicles and causing potentially permanent hair loss. This disorder can be conscious with the person realizing they are doing it but feeling an overwhelming compulsion to pull their hair, or it can be an unconscious habit.
Alopecia areata is a disorder that results in our immune system attacking our hair follicles. While alopecia areata has been tied to severe stress as an instigator, that link has not been definitively proven. With that said, severe stress can agitate some illnesses and cause damage to our bodies in various ways.
Does Hair Loss Affect Mental Health?
Hair loss alone does not necessarily impact our mental health. That said, many people suffer from psychological problems due to hair loss including depression, anxiety, and decreased self-confidence. In more severe cases it can affect work performance, encourage social withdrawal, and more.
Robotic Hair Restoration Long Island Help Restore Your Hair And Your Self Confidence
Our mental health can impact our hair health in both direct and indirect ways. And inversely, losing our hair can have a negative impact on our mental health. In addition to lifestyle advice and nonsurgical treatment options, we utilize the ARTAS® system in our state-of-the-art facility to provide a minimally invasive solution to hair thinning or loss.
We can assess whether robotic hair restoration is the right treatment for you and advise you on how to keep your hair healthy and strong long after the procedure. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us help restore your hair and your confidence.