We all know that stress cannot only affect our mental and emotional well-being, but our physical health as well. Unfortunately, the connection between stress and hair loss is not a myth. Stress can in fact contribute to excessive hair loss, although heredity and other factors can play a part as well.

Before you start counting the strands you find clumped in your drain or stuck in your brush, you should know that some hair loss is completely normal. The average person has around 100,000 strands of hair on their head. Of these 100,000, we lose an average of 100 strands per day. You may not realize it, but each one of these strands has a lifespan of roughly 4.5 years. When a strand of hair "dies" and falls out it will be replaced by a new hair within six months or so.

Styling also contributes to normal hair loss. At least a few hairs generally fall out during our daily hair-care routines, such as when we shampoo, blow-dry and brush our hair (hence the hair build-up in your brush and shower drain).

We all also begin to lose more hair as we age. Around the age of 30, both men and women begin to lose more hair as part of the natural process of aging. Some people will begin to lose their hair before the age of thirty and men tend to lose their hair more quickly than women.

Men are more likely to experience hereditary hair loss as they age because the hormone testosterone (of which they have more than women) contributes to the problem. Contrary to popular belief, hereditary hair loss is not actually a result of too much hair falling out. Rather, it is due to a lack of new hairs growing in to replace those that have fallen out.

If you are losing an unnatural amount of hair and have no reason to believe that your hair loss is due to heredity or aging (for example, if you are a young woman), you may be experiencing stress-induced hair loss. Physical stress that one might endure during an illness or injury, as well as mental and emotional stress can all contribute to unnatural hair loss.

There are generally two types of stress-induced hair loss: telogen effluvium and alopecia areata. Telogen effluvium is the less severe of the two and occurs when hair ceases to grow and then falls out 2 to 3 months later. The hair will typically grow back within 6 to 9 months.

Alopecia areata is more destructive. In this instance, your body's white blood cells attack the hair follicles as they would a foreign invader. The hair will fall out much more quickly; typically within a few weeks and in clumps or patches. This type of hair loss can result in the loss of the entire scalp and even body hair. The hair may grow back on it's own, but may sometimes requires treatment.

Luckily, stress is something that can be avoided and coped with. Small everyday stresses can quickly built up and lead to more severe and chronic stress. Hair loss is just one of the many ways in which stress negatively affects your body, so it is important to find ways to prevent and deal with stress. Simple relaxation and meditation can be very effective, as well as regular exercise and a healthy diet.

If you are experiencing health problems due to stress, you may need to rearrange your priorities and change your lifestyle to avoid spreading yourself too thin. Having a social life and making time for fun activities is also important in preventing stress. Watching a movie, reading a book, or going out with some friends can be great stress-reducers.

If you are worried about stress and hair loss, check with your doctor and try some of the suggestions for managing stress listed above.

Learn more about this author, Marie Gerber.
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