| Have you ever noticed that when a person | | | | pathogens. This produces a hazardous |
| feels stressed-out, their hair often | | | | environment within the body. Under these |
| looks frazzled and fried? Or that a | | | | conditions the hair often responds by |
| depressed persons' hair often looks dull | | | | falling out. |
| and lifeless, as if to match the way | | | | Stress can also cause the immune system |
| they feel. This is no coincidence. Our | | | | to lose its ability to turn off when it |
| hair reflects our emotional state. There | | | | is no longer needed to fight off |
| is no denying that stress affects the | | | | invasions. An over-activated immune |
| condition of our hair and can ultimately | | | | system can trigger or worsen autoimmune |
| lead to hair loss. | | | | conditions and inflammatory conditions. |
| Stress causes actual physiological | | | | Hair loss is a symptom of many of these |
| changes in our body. These changes throw | | | | types of conditions. |
| off our entire equilibrium, and affect | | | | Stress is known to decrease the release |
| every system of our body. Hair is very | | | | of acid in the stomach and to impair |
| sensitive to any disturbances or changes | | | | digestion. Hair loss is a symptom of |
| within our body. If the disturbance is | | | | gastrointestinal disorders such as |
| severe or prolonged the hair growth | | | | Chrons and Celiac. When the digestive |
| cycle becomes disrupted, causing | | | | system is not functioning properly we |
| excessive hair loss and delaying new | | | | may not absorb the nutrients needed to |
| growth. | | | | support hair growth. Large amounts of |
| Healthy hair growth is dependent on an | | | | vitamins, minerals and proteins are |
| intricately balanced hormonal system. An | | | | secreted in the urine before they have a |
| over or under production of certain | | | | chance to reach our scalp. Extreme |
| hormones is a common cause of hair loss. | | | | stress depletes important nutrients such |
| When our body perceives stress, our | | | | as selenium and zinc. A deficiency of |
| glandular system responds by producing | | | | these nutrients can lead to hair loss. |
| additional stress hormones. | | | | Stress hinders proper circulation. |
| Our body is well equipped to handle | | | | Muscles become tense and stiff, |
| stress as long as there is plenty of | | | | restricting blood from flowing to the |
| time to recover between incidents. | | | | scalp. The scalp depends on blood flow |
| Unfortunately our busy hectic lifestyles | | | | to bring oxygen and nutrients to the |
| provide little, if any recovery time | | | | hair follicles, and to remove toxins and |
| between stressful events. This type of | | | | environmental pollutants from the scalp. |
| chronic, cumulative stress causes | | | | Cumulative stress can cause cells to age |
| harmful effects to the body. Hair loss | | | | faster and to eventually stop dividing. |
| is often the first symptom. | | | | Hair is formed from cells at the base of |
| Cortisol is one of the main hormones | | | | each follicle. These cells multiply and |
| involved in combating stress. Too much | | | | differentiate to form each individual |
| or too little cortisol can cause hair | | | | strand of hair. Cellular regeneration |
| loss. Cortisol is produced from the | | | | must occur in order for new hair to |
| adrenal glands. The adrenal glands can | | | | form. |
| become dysfunctional trying to keep up | | | | Stress is a major factor in many of the |
| with the demands of stress. Any adrenal | | | | medical conditions in which hair loss is |
| gland disorder can lead to hair loss. | | | | a symptom. |
| Another stress hormone involved in hair | | | | Acute stress, when dealt with |
| loss is corticotrophin-releasing hormone | | | | effectively has no negative effects on |
| (CRH). When stress is perceived, CRH | | | | hair growth. It is the chronic, |
| signals the sebaceous glands to produce | | | | cumulative, prolonged stress that is so |
| excessive oil. This oil called sebum | | | | destructive to our system. This type of |
| creates a waxy substance on the scalp, | | | | stress causes hopelessness, anxiety, |
| making it difficult for new growing | | | | depression, insomnia and bad habits. |
| hairs to permeate. Excess sebum can | | | | Often the first place this harmful |
| create weak, thin, slow growing hair and | | | | stress shows up is in our hair. |
| hair loss. | | | | Significant changes in hair can be a |
| Long-term, chronic stress weakens the | | | | warning sign of stress that has gone out |
| entire immune system. When the immune | | | | of control. Hair loss caused by stress |
| system is suppressed the body is less | | | | responds well to natural therapies such |
| able to fight off bacteria, yeasts, | | | | as massage, aromatherapy or reflexology. |
| parasites, viruses, and other invading | | | | |