Can Stress be the Cause of Hair Loss? - By: Paul Taylor

Is stress the root cause of hair loss? This article explains how physical, chemical, and mental stress can make your hair loss worse.

Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) is a genetic condition that can pass from one generation to the next, or even skip a generation. It can also be passed on from either side of your family.

For men, once androgenetic alopecia has started, it very often continues until severe hair loss has developed. In most cases it almost always goes on to form the familiar male pattern baldness shape that so many men know all too well!

For women, androgenetic alopecia usually causes diffuse (evenly distributed) thinning of the hair (rather than the complete baldness that occurs in men). Nevertheless, this type of hair loss can still become extremely severe for some women.

Most hair loss professionals agree that the hormone dihydrotestosterone (as well as the genetic predisposition towards hair loss) are the two factors that underlie androgenetic alopecia.

However, other theories also exist which claim that other factors can also influence the development of this type of hair loss.

Stress

Physical, chemical, and mental stress can all upset your body as it tries to maintain balance. And this includes hormone production (thyroid imbalance in particular has been associated with hair loss). Many things can create stress (exercise, cigarette smoke, relationships, etc) and, accumulatively, all these things can lead to a chronic (long-term) condition.

However, a short-term stress response can also occur. This involves our inherent fight or flight response. Of course, in todayï¿½s world, it's not necessarily a life or death situation that causes us stress. But, if youï¿½re in a seriously stressful situation, the response will always be the same:

First of all, your non-essential functions stop. This includes digestion (which is why you might get that stomach churning sensation when stressed out). Also, your blood is immediately diverted inwards to protect vital organs, and to fuel your limbs (i.e., to fight or run). You'll also begin to sweat -- this helps you cool down from all that warm blood being diverted inwards.

When blood gets diverted inwards from your extremities, this includes your skin. Your skin will often turn pale as a result, and this can include the scalp. So, if the follicles within your scalp do not receive enough blood, itï¿½s possible that your hair growth could suffer.

This is the reason why:

The nutrients that grow hair can only be supplied to the follicles through this capillary network. These tiny vessels only allow one blood cell at a time to pass through. Obviously then, should this fragile part of the circulation system be disrupted, the blood supply to this region of the scalp could suffer, or even stop.

With its weaker capillary network, and being at the very top of the human body, the male pattern baldness area of the scalp is much less likely to receive an adequate blood supply than any other part of the body. Quite obviously, if the blood supply to the scalp suffers, then the hair follicles can become seriously undernourished. In theory, this could then become the main cause of hair loss throughout the affected region for some people.

Stress is a condition that affects you, and your circulation, from time to time. And, for those living a high-pressure lifestyle, this could become more and more frequent. But, for everyone, stress should not be a permanent condition.

Skull Expansion

A new theory states Skull Expansion as the true mechanism underlying androgenetic alopecia. The Skull Expansion theory still involves genetics and dihydrotestosterone, but offers an explanation for their involvement that differs from the conventional reasons given.

Put quite simply, the skull shape and size varies between those who lose hair, and those who do not. For those who suffer severe male pattern baldness, Skull Expansion will often create a somewhat rounded skull shape. However, those who suffer no hair loss at all generally have a slightly more square shape to the skull when seen from the front and/or side.

You can easily see this for yourself: simply look around you -- people you meet and see everyday, on your way to work, photos in newspapers, magazines, etc, or even as you watch TV. just compare the skull shape of those with a full head of hair to those with severe hair loss and you should see this trend.

For further illustrated details, visit http://www.top-hair-loss-remedy.com/cause-of-hair-loss.html

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About the Author

Paul Taylor completely reversed the androgenetic alopecia he suffered using safe, natural techniques that were developed from the Skull Expansion theory. These self-help techniques can now be used to stop hair loss and grow thick, strong, healthy scalp hair. To find out more, visit http://www.top-hair-loss-remedy.com/alopecia.html
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