MadSci Network: Anatomy
Query:

Re: How does stress cause hair loss?

Date: Wed Dec 7 02:15:12 2005
Posted By: Elsa Lee, Grad student, Molecular Cell Biology
Area of science: Anatomy
ID: 1132423275.An
Message:

Dear Hector,

Your topic is an interesting one and also complicated. As you probably have
already researched hair loss can be attributed to a number different
factors from genetics to environment. The correlation between stress and
hair loss is suspected. 

According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology website 
(http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/telogen_effluvium.html), it
is normal to lose up to about 100 hairs a day. Telogen is the name for the
resting stage of the hair growth cycle. A telogen effluvium is when some
stress causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state.
Telogen effluvium can be acute or chronic.

If there is some "shock to the system", as many as 70% of the scalp hairs
are then shed in large numbers about 2 months after the "shock". This
sudden increase in hair loss, usually described as the hair coming out in
handfuls, is acute telogen effluvium. This is a different problem than
gradual genetic hair thinning. However, this can be seen in the less common
chronic telogen effluvium, only after a significant amount of hair has
already been lost.


When I did an article search for the topic, what I found is that results of
many studies are inconclusive. Stress as a result of illness  can be
attributed to hair loss however, this could be a cause and effect issue.
Hair loss as a result of illness is common and definitely during times of
illness your body is undergoing a lot of stress.


To help you on your report, I have found a number of reviews that you can
use:  
 
Angelo Picardi and  Damiano Abeni (2001)
Stressful Life Events and Skin Diseases: Disentangling Evidence from Myth.
Vol. 70, No. 3   
angelo.picardi@flashnet.it

Garcia-Hernandez MJ, Ruiz-Doblado S, Rodriguez-Pichardo A, Camacho F.
J Dermatol. (1999)  "Alopecia areata, stress and psychiatric disorders: a
review." Oct;26(10):625-32.
   
Jaworsky C, Gilliam AC (1999) "Immunopathology of the human hair follicle"
Dermatol Clin. Jul;17(3):561-8.

 	
Van Neste D, Tobin DJ. (2004) "Hair cycle and hair pigmentation: dynamic
interactions and changes associated with aging," Micron. 35(3):193-200.


Good luck!
Elsa  
    

    


Current Queue | Current Queue for Anatomy | Anatomy archives

Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Anatomy.



MadSci Home | Information | Search | Random Knowledge Generator | MadSci Archives | Mad Library | MAD Labs | MAD FAQs | Ask a ? | Join Us! | Help Support MadSci


MadSci Network, webadmin@madsci.org
© 1995-2005. All rights reserved.