In the fast-paced environment of life, feelings of stress have become an all too familiar ‘back-of-the-mind’ companion. For many women, living with stress feels unavoidable. From managing microstressors to dealing with the day-to-day work stress, Australian women are feeling it.
But what you might not have realised is that feeling stressed can have some major side effects on your body. Because of this, and the rise of stress-related shedding, we spoke to certified trichologist Lena Horvardas to understand the impacts of stress on the hair and scalp.
External triggers that cause hair fall
When looking at hair fall, there’s not always one trigger to blame. Horvardas explains that “hair follicles are highly metabolically active, so even subtle changes within the body can impact the hair growth cycle.”
When dealing with hair thinning and loss, Horvardas suggests first looking at any “hormonal changes, stress, nutritional deficiencies, PCOS, thyroid dysfunction, illness or genetics.” These disruptions of the growth cycle can present as “increased shedding, scalp sensitivity, excess oil production, dryness or thinning.”
Impacts of stress on hair
Stress can have major impacts on multiple aspects of our bodies, from disrupting hormones to causing digestive issues. But what we don’t regularly consider is the impact of stress on our hair and skin.
Horvardas tells us that significant stress impacts the hair follicle. It, however, isn’t as immediate as you might think.
“Yes. Significant physical or emotional stress can trigger a condition called telogen effluvium, where a larger number of hairs shift prematurely into the shedding phase of the hair cycle. This type of shedding often occurs several weeks to months after the stressful event.” – Lena Horvardas, Certified Trichologist.
Solutions to support hair growth
Supporting healthy hair starts with a thorough, scalp-supporting haircare routine. Horvardas suggests focusing on three key steps to “maintaining a healthy scalp environment,” including, “supporting internal health and using evidence-based ingredients consistently.”
Because both growth and density are long-term processes, she suggests adopting a routine that can support them over time. Doing things such as “regular cleansing, balancing nutrition, scalp massage, reducing heat damage and using products suited to your scalp.”
A few of the evidence-based ingredients that Horvardas suggests to support your hair growth include peptides, for their ability to “support the hair follicle and encourage stronger, healthier hair growth.” Biotin supports keratin production. Saw palmetto to help reduce hormone-related thinning. Zinc and amino acids to “help support follicle function and healthy hair structure.” Along with “anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ingredients, such as green tea extract and aloe vera, which help calm the scalp and reduce oxidative stress.”
OGX ProGrowth + Peptide Scalp Serum,
$30, Chemist Warehouse
At OGX, we believe healthy hair gives you the confidence to boldly be yourself. Our high-performance, ingredient-led formulas help support hair health and resilience from root to tip, empowering you to wear your hair your way, every day.
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