WHAT STRESS CAN DO TO YOUR HAIR

Hello ladies and gentlemen

How’s everyone and how have you been?  Can you believe we are already in the 4th month of the year! 

This month is Stress Awareness month as well as Minority Health month. So I am going to take a moment to talk to all of my Women, Men and even the children about how stress really can affect your hair and health; and maybe offer some solutions that can help us with our hair while we are going through stressful times in our lives.  

What is stress?

Stress is a normal part of life: it is the body's reaction to change that requires us to make an adjustment or response. So, stress is not necessarily bad – after all, it helps us to take action and get things done – but too much of it can cause problems, especially for your hair, scalp, and health.

Why does stress affect your hair and scalp?

Stress can affect your hair and scalp for many different reasons:

First, stress can impact your hormone levels. When we are stressed, our adrenal glands pump out cortisol (known as the stress hormone) and adrenaline – which in turn, can raise your testosterone levels. If you have a genetic predisposition to follicle sensitivity this can eventually cause your hair to start thinning and causing inflammation in the scalp.

Second, an increase in stress can make your scalp produce more or less oil. This may disrupt your scalp's microflora balance, which often causes flaking and itching. (This is the same physiological reaction that can cause your skin to break out when you are stressed.) Many people find that dandruff symptoms become more of a problem when they are under stress. I SAY YES to that, this is exactly what I am going through at this moment.

Third, stress can reduce your body's ability to digest the foods you eat and absorb nutrients. Also, when you are stressed, you may not eat as well as you normally would. For example, you might skip meals or opt for foods with less nutritional value. And drink alcohol more, smoke cigarettes etc. just so we can relax and not think about our situations.  Unfortunately for your strands, nutritional deficiencies often show up first in the form of shedding, thinness, mild balding, etc.

Everyone knows what we have all been through in these last couple of years, it has been extremely STRESSFUL. So with this came health issues and hair loss. So let's talk about the several types of hair loss from stress:

As I did my research, I found that there are three types of hair loss that can be associated with high-stress levels:

Telogen effluvium. In telogen effluvium (TEL-o-jun uh-FLOO-vee-um), significant stress pushes large numbers of hair follicles into a resting phase. Within a few months, affected hairs might fall out suddenly when simply combing or washing your hair.

Trichotillomania. Trichotillomania (trik-o-til-o-MAY-nee-uh) is an irresistible urge to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows, or other areas of your body. Hair pulling can be a way of dealing with negative or uncomfortable feelings, such as stress, tension, loneliness, boredom, or frustration.

Alopecia areata. A variety of factors are thought to cause alopecia areata (al-o-PEE-she-uh ar-e-A-tuh), possibly including severe stress. With alopecia areata, the body's immune system attacks the hair follicles — causing hair loss.

Stress and hair loss don't have to be permanent. And if you get your stress under control, your hair might grow back. Talk to your physician even maybe talk to a psychiatrist this way we can find out what is going on, at this point, I normally tell a lot of my clients to get blood work because stress also deals with their health, and your body will start talking to you, and either you eat a lot during stress or you don't eat a lot and now we're dealing with malnutrition. 

If you notice sudden or patchy hair loss or more than usual hair loss when combing or washing your hair, talk to your doctor. Sudden hair loss can signal an underlying medical condition that requires treatment. If needed, your doctor might also suggest treatment options for your hair loss.

Stress has a direct impact on your immune system, lowering your body's natural defenses and leaving you susceptible to tiredness and illness. When your body is under this strain, it will divert extra energy and nutrients to your vital organs, and your hair will be the last thing it prioritizes

Your hair can tell you a lot about your health. Shiny healthy hair is often the result of a vitamin-rich diet and drinking plenty of water that helps your lifestyle, while brittle and damaged dry hair may be caused by underlying health issues. Once these health issues are identified then we can come up with a solution. Stress can throw your body's natural process out of whack, creating shifts and deficiencies. There are plenty of supplements that you can take. A B complex is great to help with the mood swings, a supplement called bliss is good to keep you calm. Getting some minerals into your system is good. Praying and meditating is also good. Beside taking care of your insides we must treat the scalp and hair.

This is when you have a relationship with your cosmetologist. Make sure they are adding the protein to your hair that you may not be getting because you are not eating right. Make sure they are putting back the moisture in your hair. Maybe at this time stay away from any chemical services. Have your stylist do a detox on your scalp to get rid of some of the bacteria on the scalp. Do scalp manipulation because where blood flows hair will grow. In saying that, consistency is the key to everything. When you have the time please go on our website at:  www.isayyessalonandspa.com  and click isotonix and take the nutritional analysis test. This will at least get you started on knowing what to say to your doctor or stylist. Again you can always reach me on all my social media if you need to ask me any questions on which products to use in your hair.

I know it is easier said than done but let's all work on it, even for myself. Let us find ways to destress.  

DRINK YOUR WATER AND TAKE YOUR VITAMINS  

Crystal D.Lewis Owner of I Say Yes Salon & Spa, LLC

155-F US Route 130 South Suite 343  Cinnaminson, NJ 08077

Website: Isayyessalonandspa.com

Email: isayyessalonspallc@gmail.com 

Salon Phone:(609)231-3538

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