Stress is everywhere; it is hard to avoid it altogether. Yet some situations and conditions cause a severe bodily reaction. Severe stress can be physical, environment, or emotional. Some common situations that cause the body to take extreme measures to cope with the stress are: severe infections, chronic illnesses, divorce or a relationship break down, major surgery or injury, medications, and starvation diets.

When the body reacts to stress, it acts to protect and maintain the vital organs by pulling back all the energy and nutrients for non-life supporting systems. Hair is not essential to life, so nutrients are taken from the hair and follicles (hair root) to support the heart, brain, and lungs, etc.

Hair has a normal life cycle that looks like this: hair emerges from root or follicle, it grows for two to five years, it rests, and then dies. When the hair is at rest, a new hair begins to grow in the root. Extreme stress or shock causes the body to cut short the growth cycle where nutrients are need, and sends most of the hair to the rest and die cycle. In normal circumstances, our hair is not all in the same stage at the same time.

When our body is reacting to stress, we can lose up to 70% of our hair, because the body has denied the hair nutrients and forced it all to go into a rest and shed stage. The symptoms of stress-related hair loss usually show up between two and three months of the onset of stress.

Good news---stress-related hair loss is temporary. Usually regrowth is complete in six to eight months. While usually no treatment is necessary, it is important to maintain a balanced diet, a regular routine of exercise, and to get plenty of rest.