Breakdowns, Burnout, and Balding: How Stress Triggers Hair Loss

While we tend to associate hair loss with ageing or genetics, few realise just how deeply stress can influence scalp health. In fact, medical experts are increasingly aware of the unexpected connection between [1] psychological stress, and physical hair loss. From workplace burnout to emotional upheaval, prolonged stress can silently disrupt the body’s natural processes, including the delicate cycle of hair growth.

It’s a vicious cycle — hair shedding can often lead to significant emotional burden, anxiety, and embarrassment. The kicker? All of which can make stress even worse.

That being said, the good news is that stress-induced hair loss is often reversible with the right lifestyle changes and medical treatment. By recognising the signs early, and taking proactive steps, you can regain control over your scalp health.

The Link Between Stress and Hair Loss

Stress may feel like an emotional state, but its effects ripple throughout the entire body [2] — including our hair and scalp. While we often focus on its impact on mental well-being, chronic stress can disrupt the body’s natural balance in ways that directly affect hair health.

The Body’s Stress Response

When we encounter a stressful situation, whether physical (like illness or injury) or emotional (like burnout, grief or anxiety), the body activates its “fight or flight” response. This survival mechanism, controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, leads to the release of stress hormones, particularly cortisol and adrenaline.

Cortisol, often called the “stress hormone”, plays a key role in regulating inflammation, metabolism, and immune function. However, when stress becomes prolonged or unmanaged, elevated cortisol levels can negatively affect multiple organ systems, including the scalp, and hair follicles.

Cortisol and Hair Follicles

Hair follicles are incredibly sensitive to hormonal changes, particularly cortisol. High cortisol levels have been shown to:

• Constrict blood flow to the scalp, reducing oxygen and nutrient delivery to follicles.
• Push more hair follicles prematurely into the telogen (resting/shedding) phase.
• Shorten the anagen (growth) phase of the hair cycle.
• Trigger inflammation that weakens the scalp barrier and hair structure.

Over time, this disruption leads to excessive shedding, thinning hair, or in some cases, complete bald patches.

Stress and the Hair Growth Cycle

To understand this impact more clearly, it is helpful to look at how the normal hair cycle functions:

Under normal conditions, about 85% to 90% [3] of your scalp hair is in the anagen phase, actively growing. However, stress can abruptly push a large number of follicles into the telogen phase, which is a phenomenon called telogen effluvium. This results in noticeable shedding a few months after the stressful event.

Emotional vs Physical Stress: Different Triggers, Similar Impact

It is important to note that both emotional stress, and physical stress can trigger this disruption. The body does not differentiate the cause of stress, it simply reacts.

In many cases, hair shedding caused by stress is delayed by 2 to 3 months [4], making it harder to link the trigger to the symptom. This delayed reaction often leaves patients feeling confused, and concerned, especially when the stressor has already passed.

Types of Stress-Induced Hair Loss

As we have seen, stress does not just disrupt the hair growth cycle. It can also trigger or worsen several distinct types of hair loss conditions, each with its own set of causes, symptoms, and outcomes. As such, identifying the exact type is crucial for choosing the right treatment approach.

Here is a breakdown of the most common types of stress-related hair loss, and how they present:

Is It Really Stress – or Something Else?

Not all hair loss is caused by stress. In fact, conditions such as androgenetic alopecia [5], thyroid disorders [6], iron deficiency [7] or postpartum hormonal shifts [8] can also result in shedding or thinning.

So how can you tell if stress is the culprit? Here are a few key distinctions:

Getting Stressed over Stress-related Hair Loss

Hair is more than just a physical feature. It is deeply tied to our identity, self-image, and confidence. So, when we begin to lose hair, especially unexpectedly, the emotional impact can be profound. What often starts as a physical condition can quickly spiral into a cycle of psychological distress that makes the situation even worse.

For many people, hair loss triggers strong emotional responses, including:

• Anxiety – constant worry over whether the hair will continue to fall, how it looks, and whether others are noticing.
• Low Self-Esteem – feeling less attractive or less like oneself can take a toll on confidence and body image.
• Social Withdrawal – people may avoid social situations, work events, or even intimate relationships out of embarrassment or shame.

Unfortunately, the very stress caused by hair loss can create a vicious cycle. As psychological distress builds, the body continues to produce elevated levels of cortisol, and other stress hormones — which, as we have already explored, can further disrupt the hair growth cycle, and lead to more shedding.

This stress loop can look like this:

How to Break the Cycle: Practical Strategies for Recovery

The good news? Stress-related hair loss is often temporary, and reversible. While seeing more hair on your pillow or brush can be stressful, many people regain healthy growth once they address the underlying cause. Recovery begins not just with topical solutions, but with restoring balance in your lifestyle, mind, and body.

At Terra Medical Clinic, we believe that healing is possible, and within reach, through an integrative approach that supports both your scalp and your overall well-being.

Let us explore the key pillars of recovery:

Lifestyle Adjustments: Reclaim Calm to Restore Growth

Stress is one of the most modifiable contributors to hair loss. Making small, sustainable changes to manage your mental load can significantly ease the pressure on your hair follicles.

Effective techniques include:

• Mindfulness and Meditation – even 10 minutes of daily mindfulness can lower cortisol levels and improve emotional resilience.
• Yoga and Gentle Exercise – physical activity boosts circulation, and mood-regulating hormones, while yoga specifically supports nervous system balance.
• Talk Therapy or Counselling – professional support can help you navigate chronic stress, grief or anxiety that may be fuelling hair loss.
• Prioritising Rest – poor sleep disrupts hormone production, and cellular repair. Try to aim for 7 to 9 hours of uninterrupted, quality sleep each night.

Nutritional Support: Feed Your Follicles

Hair is made of keratin, a protein which means your strands rely on a steady intake of key nutrients to grow strong and healthy.

Essential nutrients for hair regrowth include:

Gentle Hair Care: Protect the Strands You Have

While your internal health works to restore regrowth, it is essential to treat your existing hair with extra care.

Avoid practices that can worsen breakage or damage:

• Minimise Heat Styling – frequent use of flat irons, curling tools or hot dryers can weaken already fragile strands.
• Loosen Up Hairstyles – tight ponytails, buns or braids create traction that can lead to hair breakage or traction alopecia.
• Skip Harsh Chemicals – bleaching, perming or strong dyes can irritate the scalp, and disrupt the follicle environment.

Healing from stress-induced hair loss takes time, but every mindful step you take helps reset your body’s internal balance. 

Treatment Options at Terra Medical

Hair loss caused by stress is not just skin-deep as it is a reflection of internal imbalance, emotional strain, and biological disruption. We take a multidimensional approach to stress-related hair loss, grounded in medical science and compassionate care from our experienced doctors.

Scalp Analysis and Comprehensive Consultation

Hair loss is complex. That is why your treatment journey begins with a thorough diagnostic assessment conducted by our dedicated medical team.

This involves:

• Blood Test – our doctors will order a blood test to be done to measure cortisol levels, and any potential nutritional deficiencies, which can negatively impact your scalp, and hair health.
• Detailed Patient History – we explore recent stress events, lifestyle habits, diet, medications, and any family history of hair loss.
• Trichoscopy – we use a high-powered microscope to examine the health of your scalp, and follicles. This allows us to identify inflammation, miniaturisation (shrinking follicles), hair shaft abnormalities, and scalp conditions such as seborrhoeic dermatitis or psoriasis.
• Hair Density Mapping – we analyse the density, and distribution of your hair, helping us distinguish between diffuse shedding, and patterned loss.

If needed, we may also order blood tests to screen for hormonal imbalances, iron deficiency, vitamin D insufficiency or autoimmune markers, all of which can worsen or mimic stress-induced hair loss.

Targeted Treatments

At Terra Medical, we integrate clinically-backed solutions such as Nourkin, and TrichoPAT to address hair thinning, and breakdown at the root. These therapies are designed to support the hair growth cycle, and improve scalp health, especially when conventional treatments may not be sufficient.

Nourkin

Nourkin is a scientifically formulated marine-based supplement to support normal hair growth. Some of the key factors are:

• Contains Marilex, which is a proprietary fish extract that is rich in specific proteoglycans, a component that is vital for follicle function.
• Backed by 30 years of research, and clinical use.
• Helps normalise the hair growth cycle, especially in chronic telogen effluvium, and female-pattern hair loss.
• Drug-free, and well-tolerated, making it suitable for long-term use in both men, and women.

TrichoPAT

Terra TrichoPAT is a patented, regenerative scalp treatment developed to restore hair density. The treatment works by:

• Utilising platelet-derived bioactive proteins to reduce inflammation, and stimulate dormant hair follicles.
• Promoting tissue healing, and angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels), and enhancing scalp microcirculation.
• Often recommended as part of a comprehensive hair restoration programme, especially for patients with early signs of follicular miniaturisation.
• are administered in-clinic through a comfortable, and minimally invasive protocol.

Take Control Before Stress Takes Your Hair

Stress may be an inevitable part of life, but stress-induced hair loss does not have to be. As overwhelming as sudden shedding or thinning patches may feel, it is important to remember: you are not powerless, and you are not alone.

The connection between mental strain, and hair health is very real, but so is the potential for recovery. With the right support, early intervention, and a personalised plan, stress-related hair loss is often temporary, manageable, and even reversible. 

At Terra Medical Clinic, we are here to help you uncover the root cause, restore your confidence, and renew your scalp health with medical-grade treatments, and compassionate care. Book a consultation with us today (link to contact page) for a thorough scalp analysis and personalised treatment plan. 

References

[1]  Peters, E. M. J., Arck, P. C., Paus, R., & Arck, P. (2022). Longitudinal studies increasingly indicate that stress can cause hair loss and greying. Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 232, 108000. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.108000

[2]  Felman, A. (2025, March 18). Why stress happens and how to manage it. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145855

[3]  Murphrey, M. B., Agarwal, S., & Zito, P. M. (2023, August 14). Anatomy, Hair. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513312/

[4]  Asghar, F., Shamim, N., Farooque, U., Sheikh, H., & Aqeel, R. (2020). Telogen Effluvium: A Review of the Literature. Cureus, 12(5), e8320. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.8320

[5]  Ho, C. H., Sood, T., & Zito, P. M. (2024, January 7). Androgenetic Alopecia. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430924/

[6]  Hussein, R. S., Atia, T., & Bin Dayel, S. (2023). Impact of Thyroid Dysfunction on Hair Disorders. Cureus, 15(8), e43266. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.43266

[7]  Messenger, A. G., & Sinclair, R. D. (2006). Follicular miniaturization in female pattern hair loss: clinicopathological correlations. British Journal of Dermatology, 155(5), 926–930. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2006.07417.x

[8]  Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Postpartum Hair Loss. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/postpartum-hair-loss