Effects of stress etc... Not really hair loss related

[helpme]

Question for everyone. From August 2002, to September 2003 I was under a ton of stress. My ex told me she was preganant and also caused many other problems. I was under a ton of stress. Almost everyday. Blood pressure rose, I was irritable. Hair started thinning in january of 2003 and continues to thin. I think I activated male pattern baldness. Well, I *just* stopped stressing so much in September. Finally learned how to control it. Blood pressure went back to normal sometime earlier this summer so thats under control.

I'm 23 (was 22 when the stress began). Is it possible stress can make you look older? If so....how? And most importantly....is it reversible in someone in their early 20s???

It could be purely coincidental, but I think I may *look* older.
Thanks guys

 

[maddoc23]

Helpme,

Your hairloss may actually be from excessive stress levels. I am unaware if high stress levels can make you look aged. Also, your hair (if lost via stress) will return in a few months. Although, you can use products to hasten that process.

D

 

[Cassin]

Stress will never cause male pattern baldness, but it sure will speed it up.

It sure sped it up for me.

 

[Wax Headroom]

I have a theory about stress activating/speeding my male pattern baldness as well.
I am a musician/solo performer and about a year ago I went on my first major tour...basically I was surviving out of the back of my car for about two months. When I got home and cut my hair short, I really noticed a change..it seemed much thinner and my hairline was going (before that there had only been slight thinning at the crown. (I also thought my face looked a lot older. Heh). I have a tendency to worry and stress myself out about things (yes. A strange profession for someone prone to worrying).
There is actually no known baldness in my family, so it came as a bit of a shock. I am now trying to control/stop it with minoxidil and topical DHT inhibitors...(but I lost ALL of my stuff at the airport a few days ago! Tragedy! More stress!).
I too wonder if there has been any research done on baldness and stress. Seems like a common assumption among balders, but I have never read any scientific literature to support it.

 

[helpme]

yes i should add ive always been a worrier like wax headroom. Anxiety problem is what caused it. It's much better now (not taking any meds for it). I know I probably activated male pattern baldness...the thing is I'm getting loss in weird areas. I'm thinning above and around my ears. Thats where it started. I also have thinning in the usual areas (top of head and crown). I've also receeded a little bit. I've never heard of stress causing receeding.

Hoping the "face looking older" was all in my head
thanks guys

 

[Redbone]

I believe it can start male pattern baldness if you have it in your family and if you dont the hair will grow back. I suffer from Anxiety also. I had a little thin spot on my crown for about three years then I got laid off in September 01 then the terrorist attacks happend and I got a temp job at half my salary that I hated. There was a guy at work dying of cancer and my girlfriend lost her job, my best friends sister in law died off cancer at 35 leaving three young children, then my aunt died. It was a very stressful year for me. sh*t just kept on coming.

My hair was quickly reduced to sh*t in like 7mo I was shocked that day in September 02 when I went to a hair stylist and saw all the thin and balding areas under the bright lights. My blood went cold and I knew I had serious hair problems. I guarantee it was from the stress I was suffering. I was going thin before that but very slowly. In that period I was so stressed out at times I thought I would explode.

Anyway things got a little better and I started treating my hair, it came back for the most part but the area's around my temples that had no skin are now bald but can be covered up.

My doctor also told me that stress excellerates male pattern baldness.

 

[dave01_us]

i found this site http://www.mmtresearch.com here in one of the forums they talk about stress and hairloss and products to use to help...use your own judgement

 

[Redbone]

I like that site for $30 they will do an analysis on your hair follicle and tell you exactly what you are lacking and what type of hormonal damage there is. Anybody tried this?

 

[dave01_us]

I seen that i dont know it seemed on the up and up i did order emu shampoo and conditioner from them i got it no prob....

 

[Redbone]

Well, how does it work? Its only $30 when I get the money I think I will give it a shot.

 

[Jyn]

Stress can DEFINITELY make you look older. I remember seeing pictures of presidents before they took the office and after, some of them looked like they aged 20 years.

Just wondering, what was your secret in learning to handle your stress?

 

[helpme]

Stress can DEFINITELY make you look older. I remember seeing pictures of presidents before they took the office and after, some of them looked like they aged 20 years.

Just wondering, what was your secret in learning to handle your stress?

BUt is it possible for it to happen when you're young? I've hard younger people arent susceptible to permanent effects of stress as older people are

I was only stresed for a year.

 

[Cassin]

yes i should add ive always been a worrier like wax headroom. Anxiety problem is what caused it. It's much better now (not taking any meds for it). I know I probably activated male pattern baldness...the thing is I'm getting loss in weird areas. I'm thinning above and around my ears. Thats where it started. I also have thinning in the usual areas (top of head and crown). I've also receeded a little bit. I've never heard of stress causing receeding.

Hoping the "face looking older" was all in my head
thanks guys

Generally stressed induced hairloss will cause dime to quater sized fallout. In other words it is very patchy and random.

But stress will for sure speed up male pattern baldness very quickly.

Looking older? You bet. I was under a tremedous amuont of stress awhile back and had dark circles under my eyes and looked worn out.

I have minimal stress now and I def look better. Stress is a tough one to fight and takes some serious work solving your problems.

 

[kiwi1973]

stress and Illness can cause hairloss in 95 i was traveling in thailand and got dengy fever went crazy for a week lost a lot of weight,thought i was losing my mind,got better then a couple of months latter my hair started falling out like crazy, fall out for 2 months then all grew back looked great till 97 when MPH started

Dam this is the second time.