To get your hair back after depression, focus on stress management, a nutrient-rich diet (protein, biotin, zinc, iron), gentle hair care, and potentially supplements like Viviscal or Nutrafol, but always consult your doctor first to rule out medication side effects and discuss options like minoxidil, PRP, or adjusting meds for healthy regrowth.
Anxiety and depression caused by hair loss can be treated using cognitive behavioural therapy and support groups, as well as by medication such as antidepressants [9]. Psychological treatment is important for people with hair loss, but the best method is not certain and will differ from patient to patient.
Stress and hair loss don't have to be permanent. And if you get your stress under control, your hair might grow back. If you notice sudden or patchy hair loss or more than usual hair loss when combing or washing your hair, talk to your doctor.
Treatments often include prescription medications and PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy, which uses the growth factors in your blood to stimulate dormant hair follicles. If stress triggers an autoimmune reaction that causes baldness, your dermatologist may recommend corticosteroid injections to treat alopecia.
You might be able to reverse hair loss, or at least slow it. With some conditions, such as patchy hair loss (alopecia areata), hair may regrow without treatment within a year. Treatments for hair loss include medications and surgery.
Vitamin deficiencies, particularly iron, Vitamin D, Biotin (B7), B12, and Zinc, can cause hair loss by disrupting hair follicle function, keratin production, or oxygen supply, leading to thinning, shedding, or brittle strands; though rare, deficiencies in Folic Acid, Niacin (B3), and Vitamin A (excess is also harmful) can also contribute.
Symptoms of stress-related hair loss (Telogen Effluvium) include sudden, excessive shedding of hair (noticeable in your brush, drain, or pillow), resulting in diffuse thinning all over the scalp rather than bald patches, often starting about three months after a major stressful event, with hair feeling less dense overall and possibly becoming drier. It's generally temporary and resolves when stress lessens, but can also manifest as the compulsive pulling of hair (Trichotillomania) or patchy loss (Alopecia Areata).
Biotin, a B-vitamin often referred to as vitamin H, is known to support healthy hair growth and could alleviate stress-related hair loss. Additionally, vitamins such as vitamin C, E, and D, along with minerals like zinc and iron, play a crucial role in maintaining healthy hair.
Good hair health starts from the inside – so build up your hair's strength with protein-rich foods like eggs, oily fish, beans, nuts, whole grains and lean meats, like chicken. Protein is important because each strand of your hair is made of keratin, a tough protein that's also used to create fingernails and skin.
Telogen effluvium usually gets completely better without any treatment. The shedding (hair loss) phase in the hair cycle lasts between 3 to 6 months. After this, new hair starts to grow. It may take many months for your hair to return to normal volume and thickness.
Increased stress hormones: Depression, commonly related to chronic stress, is linked to high levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. Research shows that excess cortisol and high stress can negatively impact the hair growth cycle, impacting the hair follicles and growth.
Certain vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, B, C, D, E, zinc, biotin and iron, help maintain healthy hair, skin and muscle tissue. Ask your healthcare provider before adding any new supplements to your diet. Find ways to cope with stress. Stress is one of the leading causes of telogen effluvium.
Depression often occurs in 'episodes,' similar to flare-ups in physical conditions, where symptoms are more intense. The length of these episodes can vary, but for those diagnosed with depression, episodes typically last more than two weeks. The frequency of these episodes also varies from person to person.
In spite of alopecia's common occurrence, it often leads to psychological disturbance and distress. Hair thinning and perceived hair loss also has a very important negative impact on the psyche of the individual. The common emotional aspects associated are self-consciousness, embarrassment, frustration, and jealousy.
Options like prescription medications (finasteride, minoxidil), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and low-level laser therapy may help dormant follicles re-enter the growth cycle. But here's the key: once follicles are dead, the only way to restore hair in that area is through transplantation.
Psychotropic drugs are considered to cause hair loss by affecting particularly the telogen phase of the hair production [10]. Side effects of these drugs affecting hair are not only limited to the hair loss. They have been suggested to be changing the structure and the colour of the hair as well [11].
The "Big 3" for hair regrowth typically refers to a combination of Minoxidil, Finasteride, and Ketoconazole shampoo, addressing hair loss through different mechanisms: Minoxidil stimulates follicles, Finasteride blocks DHT (the hormone causing shrinkage), and Ketoconazole reduces inflammation, with microneedling sometimes suggested as a fourth option.
The good news is, in many cases, thin hair can be revitalised and regain density, depending on the underlying cause. To address thinning hair, it's crucial to understand what might be causing it. For some, it's a temporary effect of stress or nutrition, which can be relatively straightforward to correct.
Vitamin deficiencies, particularly iron, Vitamin D, Biotin (B7), B12, and Zinc, can cause hair loss by disrupting hair follicle function, keratin production, or oxygen supply, leading to thinning, shedding, or brittle strands; though rare, deficiencies in Folic Acid, Niacin (B3), and Vitamin A (excess is also harmful) can also contribute.
The good news about stress-related hair loss is that it is usually reversible. Stress and hair loss do not need to be permanent. If you get your stress under control, your hair may regrow. Trichotillomania-related cases typically require psychosocial assistance.
Neither is better. Each plays a different role. Biotin helps produce keratin, a protein that strengthens your hair. Vitamin B12 helps make red blood cells, which deliver oxygen to hair follicles.
In conclusion, while vitamin D is essential for healthy hair growth, too much can potentially lead to hair loss.
Depression can also manifest as compulsive behaviors like trichotillomania, where individuals repeatedly pull out their hair as a way to cope with stress or anxiety. This leads to uneven hair loss, particularly on the scalp, eyebrows, or eyelashes.