Stress and Hair Loss
A: Stress can definitely be a factor in hair loss. It’s the same with diet, overall health, hormonal balance, etc. If your friend’s hair loss is significant enough that you are concerned for her then it’s time she visited a doctor to determine the cause of the hair loss.
And if her problem is medical, it’s no wonder that shampoos haven’t had any beneficial effect. Shampoos can help with hair loss that is caused by surface irritants or clogged pores and follicles, but don’t provide any help in situations of medical hair loss (that is caused by illness or hormonal imbalance).
If she is hesitant to go to the doctor, or just plain stubborn, do tell her that if left untreated, and if she does have Alopecia Areata, it can only get worse. Hopefully, her problem is simpler, perhaps hormonally based, or the result of an unidentified ‘agent’ affecting her scalp. In those cases, the doctor can usually give a prescription that will clear up the problem, and her hair will begin re-growing as normal.
No matter what the cause or what the treatment might be, she can’t begin to resolve the issue until she has identified the cause. And don’t let her go to a salon to ask the “opinion” of a stylist there. One of two things will happen: Either the stylist will be a good one and will immediately refer her to her physician, or will be a bad one and suggest a wide variety of “tips” and remedies that will be ineffective and possibly do more harm in the long run by delaying your friend from seeking proper care and advice.
Stylists are not trained in diagnosis nor are we licensed to dispense medical advice. We are trained to spot potential problems that should be seen by a doctor, but we should never try to suggest any treatment for a condition with a medical source.
©Hairfinder.com
See also:
Hair loss
The different forms of alopecia
Hair loss caused by stress
