30+ Stress-Related Hair Loss Statistics: Hair Loss in Men and Women, Causes, and Treatments
30+ Stress-Related Hair Loss Statistics:
Hair Loss in Men and Women, Causes, and Treatments
Miriam Otero
10 min
July 29, 2024
Stress can cause 70% of hair follicles to enter the resting phase of the hair growth cycle, highlighting the link between hair loss and high cortisol levels. [Source: 4]
High cortisol levels can significantly impact our bodies, including our hair follicles. Prolonged stress increases cortisol, causing hair follicles to enter the telogen phase prematurely.
Cortisol (also referred to as the stress hormone) is a steroid hormone produced in the adrenal glands' cortex. It helps maintain body balance, especially during stress, by regulating energy, blood pressure, blood sugar, immune function, and inflammation.
Dr. Bahman Sotoodian, E.E. (BAS), M.D., FRCPC, FAAD, a Cosmetic Dermatologist Fellow at Gateway Aesthetic Institute & Laser Center, says, “Chronic stress poses a greater risk to hair health, leading to a process known as miniaturization. In this scenario, hair follicles shrink in size, resulting in finer and shorter hair strands. If left unaddressed, this can escalate to more severe forms of hair loss.”
At HAIR & SKIN, we care about our clients and their hair needs. Whether you're experiencing stress or simply dealing with the effects of aging, we invite you to join us for a consultation to find the best solution. In the meantime, we've put together an interesting article on stress-related hair loss to help you better understand its causes and how to treat it.
Top 10 Stress-Related Hair Loss Statistics
Stress can cause 70% of hair follicles to enter the resting phase of the hair growth cycle, highlighting the link between hair loss and high cortisol levels. [Source: 4]
Recent studies show that over 40% of people under significant stress experience noticeable hair loss. [Source: 9]
Around 35 million men and 21 million women experience hair loss. [Source: 4]
According to the American Hair Loss Association, about two-thirds of men will experience some hair loss by age 35. [Source: 8]
Approximately 40% of women with alopecia have experienced marital problems, and about 63% have faced career-related challenges. [Source: 10]
Permanent hair loss, known as androgenetic alopecia (often misspelled as androgenic alopecia), affects 70% of men (male pattern baldness) and 40% of women (female pattern baldness) during their lifetimes. [Source: 8]
61% of those seeking hair loss products and treatments are men. [Source: 7]
By age 50, 85% of men will have experienced hair thinning or significant hair loss. [Source: 8]
Over 55% of women and 85% of men are likely to face some form of hair loss. [Source: 8]
People often develop telogen effluvium between six weeks and three months after a stressful event like major surgery, illness (especially with a fever), pregnancy, or a death in the family. [Source: 5]
Hair Loss Statistics in Men and Women
Did you know that men are more likely to experience hair loss than women? Over 55% of women and 85% of men are likely to face some form of hair loss. [Source: 8]
Although both men and women can experience hair loss, it tends to be more noticeable in men because they lose their hair differently.
Permanent hair loss, known as androgenetic alopecia (often misspelled as androgenic alopecia), affects 70% of men (male pattern baldness) and 40% of women (female pattern baldness) during their lifetimes. [Source: 8]
Around 35 million men and 21 million women experience hair loss. [Source: 4]
61% of those seeking hair loss products and treatments are men. [Source: 7]
Gradual thinning on top starts differently for men and women. For men, it usually begins at the hairline and forehead, while for women, it starts at the part line. Among respondents, 24% experienced M-shaped hair loss, while only 2.6% reported U-shaped hair loss. [Source: 7]
According to the American Hair Loss Association, about two-thirds of men will experience some hair loss by age 35. [Source: 8]
By age 50, 85% of men will have experienced hair thinning or significant hair loss. [Source: 8]
While pattern hair loss in men is common, it can still be embarrassing and upsetting. Losing hair can significantly affect your confidence and lead to depression.
Many men try to hide their thinning hair before seeking treatment, such as hair loss surgery. However, there is no need to hide when a quick and easy procedure can restore a full, healthy head of hair.
At HAIR & SKIN, our Sapphire FUE method is an advanced version of the traditional FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) method. It involves extracting individual hair follicles from a donor area, usually the lower back of the head, and transplanting them to areas affected by hair loss.
Causes of Stress-Related Hair Loss Statistics
A patient with hair loss experiences various emotions due to personal and social pressures. This can lead to psychological stress that feels much larger than the problem.
Dr. Antonella Tosti, a dermatologist who treats hair loss at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, says, “Stress could also cause or worsen other conditions that lead to hair loss, such as alopecia areata, a disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys hair follicles, and lichen planopilaris, a rare inflammatory condition that can cause scalp scarring and hair loss.”
Recent studies show that over 40% of people under significant stress experience noticeable hair loss. [Source: 9]
Dr. Sotoodian says, “Stress triggers a complex interplay within the body, exacerbating alopecia by influencing hair follicles and altering growth cycles. As cortisol surges, it disrupts hormonal balance, prompting hair to prematurely enter the resting phase, increasing shedding and thinning, and underscoring the importance of holistic stress management in hair health.”
But what causes stress-related hair loss?
People often develop telogen effluvium between six weeks and three months after a stressful event like major surgery, illness (especially with a fever), pregnancy, or a death in the family. [Source: 5] Essentially, "anything that causes stress or shock to your system," explained Dr. Angela Lamb, a dermatologist at Mount Sinai in New York City.
Research shows that hair loss can happen after recovering from Covid-19. In a 2022 study, researchers surveyed nearly 6,000 people in Brazil who had recovered from Covid within the past three months. Almost half of the respondents reported experiencing hair loss. [Source: 6]
The emotions caused by hair loss can be so overwhelming that they disrupt a patient's daily life. It can lead to avoiding social activities, skipping family events, and spending much time and money on hair grooming. This impact is seen in both men and women.
Approximately 40% of women with alopecia have experienced marital problems, and about 63% have faced career-related challenges. [Source: 10]
Hair loss can cause varying psychological reactions. Some people usually respond, while others may develop psychosomatic or psychiatric conditions. Studies show 20 to 48% of cosmetic surgery patients have a psychiatric diagnosis. [Source: 10]
The link between stress and hair loss is significant. Recognizing this connection is the first step to managing stress and keeping your hair healthy. By making lifestyle changes and using stress-reduction techniques, you can tackle the root causes of hair loss and improve your overall well-being. A healthy mind and body lead to vibrant, resilient hair.
Stress-Related Hair Loss Treatments Statistics
First-line treatments for alopecia, such as steroids, or topical minoxidil, depend on the type. Severe cases like alopecia totalis and universalis are harder to manage and have lower recovery rates. For treatment-resistant patients, support for emotional well-being is crucial. Complete hair regrowth takes time, so psychological distress may persist. Psychological treatments can improve depression, anxiety, quality of life, and self-confidence in alopecia patients.
A team led by Dr. Ya-Chieh Hsu at Harvard University, supported by NIH’s NIAMS, studied how stress leads to hair loss. They found that removing adrenal glands in mice (which is the same for humans), which produce stress hormones, led to continuous hair regrowth. Introducing corticosterone, a stress hormone, restored the normal hair cycle.
Mice under mild stress had increased corticosterone levels, reducing hair growth by keeping hair follicles resting. The hormone affects hair growth indirectly by acting on cells under the hair follicle called the dermal papilla, preventing them from secreting GAS6, a molecule that activates hair follicle stem cells. Injecting GAS6 into stressed mice restored hair growth.
Regarding other hair loss treatments, 43.5% of users have tried autologous blood treatment for alopecia, and nearly 32% have used various vitamins and nutrients. [Source: 7]
Dermatologists may prescribe topical corticosteroids for children 10 years or younger and give corticosteroid injections to individuals older than 10 years with patchy alopecia. [Source: 3]
A dermatologist might also prescribe topical immunotherapy for those with extensive alopecia (over 50% scalp hair loss). [Source: 3] According to a study in Stat Pearls, this treatment led to hair regrowth in 74.6% of people with patchy alopecia and 54.4% of those with alopecia totalis. However, 38.2% of people experienced a recurrence of their alopecia.
If you're losing hair due to stress, Dr. Lamb recommends taking a daily multivitamin with vitamin D, which supports hair growth, and vitamin B12, as it is often deficient in patients with telogen effluvium, though research is limited. [Source: 5]
Dr. Lamb advises against using over-the-counter supplements marketed for hair loss, like those from Vegamour, Nutrafol, and Viviscal, which contain high doses of biotin. [Source: 5]
Dr. Lamb further advocates, “Biotin supplements have been shown to interfere with the results of thyroid hormone tests, and they can sometimes cause acne flare-ups.”
Dr. Tosti adds, “If you want to accelerate hair growth, try an over-the-counter, topical minoxidil treatment such as Rogaine.”
In 2017, Gallo et al. conducted a pilot study to examine the impact of mindfulness-based practices on the quality of life of 16 patients with moderate to severe alopecia areata. They assessed quality of life, psychological symptoms, and stress levels at the start of the study, at the end of the program, and six months later. The assessments used were the Alopecia Areata Quality of Life Index Questionnaire (AA-QLI), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). They found:
Patients who completed the 2-month program showed significant improvement in AA-QLI subjective symptoms, relationship impacts, and BSI anxiety and phobia, unlike the control group. [Source: 11]
No significant changes were found in the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) or control group. [Source: 11]
After 6 months, the MBSR group showed sustained improvements in AA-QLI relationships and reduced BSI anxiety compared to baseline. [Source: 11]
Interestingly, the MBSR program helped improve quality of life and psychological wellness despite no significant improvements in AA during the study. [Source: 11]
Overall, this study suggests that mindfulness might help manage the distress caused by ongoing hair loss.
In another randomized, controlled pilot study, researchers investigated the effectiveness of AA-specific collocated behavioral health (CLBH) treatment on various psychosocial functioning measures. Twenty patients with AA received up to two 30-minute therapy sessions, while ten control patients did not receive any psychotherapy. They found:
The CLBH group showed better trends in several areas of psychosocial functioning compared to the control group, including appearance shame (p = 0.18), activity avoidance (p = 0.17), negative emotions (p = 0.13), and coping (p = 0.12). [Source: 11]
First-line treatments showcase a valuable rate of stress-related hair loss among AA patients, but what is often amiss is the mental well-being of the patient and how not only are they stressed as a result of certain events in their lives, but they become anxious and even depressed because of their stress-related hair loss. That’s why, in addition to medical treatments, mindfulness practices, and psychotherapy can improve the quality of life and mental health in patients with different types of alopecia.
Frequently asked questions
Can stress cause hair loss?
Yes, stress can cause hair loss. Extreme emotional or physical stress and environmental factors can make your hair shed faster. This hair loss is often linked to conditions like telogen effluvium, alopecia areata, or trichotillomania, and it's usually temporary. [Source: 1]
Why does stress cause hair loss?
Stress can affect your body, causing issues like trouble sleeping, headaches, and heartburn. It's linked to the "fight, flight, or freeze" response, where your body releases cortisol to cope. Chronic stress leads to excess cortisol, which can harm your body and cause hair loss. Stress pushes hair follicles into a resting phase, and after a few months, these hairs may fall out, often noticeable when brushing or washing your hair. [Source: 2]
Does stress-related hair loss grow back?
For most people, stress-related hair loss is temporary and requires patience. This is especially true for telogen effluvium, which usually improves within six to nine months. [Source: 2]
What does hormonal hair loss look like?
The hair might appear finer or thinner. It can also fall out more easily and grow more slowly than it used to. [Source: 3]
What does a dermatologist do for hair loss?
A dermatologist can check your hair and tell if it can regrow. They might suggest treatments like corticosteroid injections or autologous blood treatment and perform them for you. [Source: 3]
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