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Hair Loss and Stress - How are they Related?- Saturday, September 20, 2008

Question:

I know that physical or emotional stress can accelerate male pattern baldness (MPB) or female pattern baldness (FPB). But I want to know if there is any existing proof correlating stress and the onset of male pattern baldness. Nearly 80% of men have the male pattern baldness gene and many women do also.

Answer:

It has been cited by professional hair loss doctors that multiple genes are responsible for the onset of androgenetic alopecia (genetic male pattern or female pattern hair loss). In an article about genetic hair loss testing, well renowned hair transplant surgeon and Coalition Physician member Dr. Sharon Keene noted,

"Because androgenic alopecia is polygenic (caused by more than one gene) we know the androgen receptor gene does not, by itself, cause androgenetic alopecia. However, it is the first gene identified, in 4 separate, published, scientific studies to have a close association with the occurrence of androgenic alopecia."

Inhibiting DHT through medication has been one such pathway in which to try to stop hair loss. Other genes responsible for the onset of female or male pattern baldness are being explored.

Most hair loss specialists will tell you that normal every day stress does not cause or facilitate hereditary hair loss. Traumatic stress may be the cause of temporary non-genetic hair loss such as telogen effluvium, a specific variety of diffuse alopecia. Telogen effluvium is characterized by thinning hair all over the scalp or in the affected areas in cases of scalp infections like seborrheic dermatitis. Sometime after this unusual stress diminishes, the hair loss process typically reverses itself and you will once again be able to grow strong, healthy hair.

I hope this helps.

Bill (Falceros) - Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.
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