Although it is confused with baldness in many cases, excessive hair loss can in fact be closely linked to a patient’s emotional. This is the case with hair loss under stresswhich affects 1 to 2% of the population and affects men and women of all ages.
Popularly known as “naked”, the name of the disease that causes stress hair loss is alopecia areata and, in fact, it is a condition characterized by hair loss or hair on rounded or oval areas of the scalp or other body parts.
Alopecia areata usually appears up to three months after an episode of intense stress. This happens because, when we are stressed, the immune system is against the follicles, causing them to fall in small or large quantities. Only in extreme situations does the loss of all the threads occur.
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In addition, acute stress increases cortisol rates in the body, which also leads to the fall of the threads. When the brain is “forced” to be constantly alert, there is a greater demand for vitamins and proteins and, because it understands that hair is not so important, the body uses for itself all the nutrients that were previously destined for strands.
This is precisely why treatment against stress hair loss involves vitamin intake. However, it is important to remember that it is no use just taking care of strands if the emotional problem is not treated. To combat the problem, it is also necessary to tackle its root.
Check below what are the most effective measures against stress hair loss.
Get medical help
If you have noticed that your hair is falling out far beyond normal – naturally, humans lose about 100 hairs a day – the first step should be to seek help from a trichologist (dermatologist specialized in scalp diseases). Early diagnosis is essential to reverse alopecia areata.
Generally, treatment against stress hair loss involves the ingestion of vitamin supplements or vasodilator drugs, in addition to local application of creams containing corticosteroids. In some cases, it is also worth investing in cosmetics that fight hair loss, such as Tonic Strengthening S.O.S. Bomba.
Seek psychological help
In cases of hair loss due to stress, psychological treatment is as – or even more – important as medical treatment. In addition to being fundamental in dealing with stress and trauma, therapy is also fundamental for self-esteem, which tends to be quite compromised after episodes of hair loss.
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So don’t be ashamed to seek psychological help. The ideal, of course, is to do this with a professional who does a real psychological follow-up but if, for some reason, you don’t want this kind of help, be sure to talk to friends, families and other reliable people if you are facing some personal problem.
Strengthen your immune system
In 20% to 30% of cases, alopecia can be associated with diseases of an immunological nature. In the case of alopecia areata, the immune system is also affected and, for this reason, it is important to resort to measures that increase immunity in the body, preferably natural ones.
To do this, you can invest in a diet rich in vitamins C (present in orange, for example) and E (present in grains, green leaves and vegetable oils), do light exercise regularly, ensure good nights’ sleep and avoid bad habits such as smoking or drinking in excess.
Invest in food to strengthen your hair
Another measure that can help is to bet on a diet rich in food to strengthen the hair, as they help promote a change from inside to outside. Salmon, for example, facilitates the arrival of nutrients and improves circulation, as it contains fatty acid, omega 3 and selenium.
Soy is also a strong ally in hair loss combat because it’s a great source of protein that ensures that new strands grow whenever others fall out. Orange, strawberry, carrot, watercress and spinach are easy to find ingredients that help strengthen the yarns.
