How stress causes hair loss

Chronic stress, which persists over an extended period, poses a significant risk to one’s overall health and well-being. The repercussions of long-term stress include mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, as well as physical problems affecting digestion and sleep patterns. Among the lesser-known consequences of chronic stress is hair loss, a phenomenon that has long puzzled researchers due to its complex underlying mechanisms.

Before continuing to read the article we would like to offer you a totally FREE E-Book about Hair Loss and how to stop it. Follow this link to get it!

Hair growth undergoes a cyclical process comprising three distinct stages: growth (anagen), degeneration (catagen), and rest (telogen). During the growth phase, hair strands emerge from the skin as a result of follicle activity. The degeneration phase signals a cessation in hair growth, with the follicle shrinking. In the resting phase, the hair falls out, and the cycle restarts. Notably, mammals possess the unique ability to regenerate hair throughout their lifetime, thanks to specialized stem cells located within the hair follicles.

Researchers, led by Dr. Ya-Chieh Hsu from Harvard University, embarked on a study to unravel the intricate relationship between stress and hair loss. Supported in part by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), their findings were published in the journal Nature on March 4, 2021.

To investigate the connection between stress and hair loss, the scientists initially explored the role of the adrenal glands, responsible for producing stress hormones such as corticosterone in rodents and cortisol in humans. Through experiments involving mice, they discovered that removing the adrenal glands led to accelerated hair regrowth cycles. Unlike control mice, whose hair follicle regeneration slowed with age, the mice without adrenal glands exhibited continuous growth and regeneration of hair follicles throughout their lifetimes. The researchers were able to restore the normal hair cycle in the mice by administering corticosterone.

Additionally, subjecting mice to mild stress over an extended period resulted in elevated corticosterone levels and reduced hair growth. The hair follicles remained in an extended resting phase. These findings provided further evidence of corticosterone’s role in impeding hair regrowth.

To delve deeper into the impact of corticosterone on hair follicle stem cells, the scientists conducted additional experiments. They discovered that the stress hormone did not directly regulate the stem cells themselves. By selectively removing the corticosterone receptor from various cell types, they determined that the hormone primarily acts on a group of cells called the dermal papilla, situated beneath the hair follicle.

Further investigations uncovered that corticosterone hinders the dermal papilla’s secretion of GAS6, a molecule crucial for activating hair follicle stem cells. When the researchers delivered GAS6 directly to the skin, they observed restored hair growth in mice exposed to corticosterone or chronic stress.

These findings build upon the researchers’ previous work, which shed light on how stress contributes to the graying of hair. The newly uncovered pathway offers valuable insights into the mechanisms behind hair loss resulting from chronic stress. Furthermore, it opens up potential avenues for exploring how stress impacts tissue regeneration in other parts of the body.

Dr. Sekyu Choi, a co-author of the study from Harvard University, suggests that in the future, the Gas6 pathway could be harnessed to activate stem cells and promote hair growth. However, further research is necessary to ascertain whether the same mechanisms apply to humans.

Understanding the intricate relationship between stress and hair loss can potentially pave the way for innovative interventions and treatments to mitigate the adverse effects of chronic stress on hair follicle regeneration. By uncovering the underlying mechanisms, researchers offer hope for addressing hair loss and promoting healthy hair growth in individuals who experience chronic stress.

GET YOUR FREE E-BOOK ON HAIR LOSS NOW: CLICK HERE