Hair Loss with Stress

Nervous alopecia: when hair falls out due to anxiety

Dr. Alberto Gorrochategui summarizes some of the keys to this problem

The health of our hair is closely related to our state of mind. In fact, there are people who watch their hair fall out in times of special stress or anxiety. Dr. Alberto Gorrochategui summarizes some of the keys to alopecia Nervosa, from its causes to its symptoms and possible treatments.

What is alopecia Nervosa? What causes it?

Hair loss can be due to many causes, it can be due to lack of food, genetics, iron problems in women, fevers ... Among these causes, there are also people who lose their hair due to a moment of anxiety, stress or depression. When the body suffers a strong feeling of anxiety, it sometimes reacts by letting the hair fall temporarily.

It's something temporary? Does that hair that falls out grow again?

Indeed, alopecia nervosa is a very acute temporary fall that usually lasts a few months and, once the anxiety problem is overcome, the hair is reborn.

This occurs as long as there is no underlying autoimmune disease (alopecia

areata), in which case it would be necessary to use some topical products to make the hair come out again

How do we know it is alopecia nervosa, androgenetics, or areata?

There are some basic differences:

-Androgenetic alopecia occurs over several years, in which the hair is literally miniaturized, remains weak and falls out little by little.

-Alopecia areata has an inherited genetic factor. It differs because approximately one euro-sized cavity appear that, if left untreated, can form large plaques.

-In alopecia Nervosa, the hair falls out in a diffuse and the homogeneous way in a matter of 8 or 10 days in which the personal stress is greater, after which the hair is born again on its own. But if a person suffering from alopecia areata disease has alopecia Nervosa at one point in his life, this would also manifest with cavities and should be treated as areata (with topical products).

Is there any treatment that can stop this type of fall?

Alopecia Nervosa is best treated from a psychotherapeutic point of view, trying to calm the patient emotionally, since the hair will reappear on its own when the nervous problem is over.

Any special shampoo or any specific asset?

Perhaps the application of a dermatological product can be good, but always after a diagnosis. For example, Minoxidil or a vitamin supplement can help. Afterward, when the hair is reborn, it would be advisable to treat it with subcutaneous amino acid infiltrations in the scalp to give it the strength and shine it had before falling out.