It is well known that the head scalp is prone to be seriously affected by one’s mental and physical health. This is because hair is non-essential tissue and non-essential tissue can be affected by the deteriorating mental or physical health of a person.

Stress can have different consequences when it comes to the scalp and hair-related problems. Itchiness, oiliness, and hair fall are common outcomes as stress increases the cortisol level in the body. Cortisol has a direct correlation to hair follicles which means that hair-related problems might be indicative of underlying stress issues.

This can be a serious problem for many people as hair fall and other scalp issues can be highly stress-inducing which creates a brutal chain of stress-causing hair fall and hair fall causing stress.

Scalp Issues

One of the most obvious signs of stress-causing hair-related problems can be noticed on the scalp in the form of dandruff. People already suffering from dandruff might find flaking and itching of the scalp to be more pronounced. It can be difficult to distinguish a dry scalp vs dandruff as most people think of them being the same thing.

Hormonal changes induced by stress can add to this as they disrupt the micro-flora of the head scalp. Flaking and irritation of the scalp can result in more pronounced hair loss. Scalp treatment can help reduce itchiness and flaking which results in a reduction of hair fall.

Oiliness

While it might seem surprising, oily hair can be an indication of increased stress levels. People going through stress-inducing issues might find their hair becoming oiler and greasier faster than usual. This is because stress can cause a rise in androgen levels.

Androgens are responsible for facial hair, body hair growth, and voice changes in men. An increase in androgen can cause heightened production of oils in the scalp which results in oilier and greasier hair.

Hair Loss

Stress does not affect a person in just one way. One of the areas where it can have the most significant impact is the diet of an individual. People suffering from stress might find themselves not wanting to eat anything at all or resort to comfort foods that offer little nutritional value.

This can have a direct effect on a person’s hair which is why it is important to maintain a healthy, balanced diet. Hair loss can cause extreme stress in a person which if it gets worse forces people to go for other options for restoring their hairline like scalp micropigmentation and hair transplants.

Stress and hair fall are connected in a complex manner as high-stress levels can cause hair fall and other problems which cause further stress, and the cycle keeps on repeating itself. It is important to seek proper medical help such as counseling and therapy to deal with stress while following the safe and medically approved methods to minimize hair fall, dandruff, oiliness, or other issues that stress can cause in one’s hair.