Depression Hair Loss
Recently I received several emails from HairBoutique.com visitors asking how depression might be linked to hair loss or other hair concerns such as slowed growth, change in texture or other factors.
Good question. Can depression cause hair loss? Or does hair loss occur as a side effect to the drugs that may be prescribed for treating depression? Which comes first depression or hair loss?
Before I answer these questions it’s important to provide an overview of what depression is.
What Is Depression
According to Wikipedia a person suffering a major depressive mood usually experiences a pervasive low mood or lost of interest or pleasure in favored activities. Depression has been equated to that of chronic medical conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
Depression can have physical causes, psychological causes or a combination of both.
As a general rule depressed people may be preoccupied with, or repeatedly mull over thoughts of worthlessness, inappropriate guilt or regret and have feelings of helplessness or hopelessness.
Symptoms Of Depression
Other symptoms may include poor concentration and memory, withdrawal from social situations, reduced sex drive and thoughts of death or suicide. Insomnia is common as is hypersomnia or oversleeping. Appetite may decrease with resulting weight loss but on the flip side there can be increased appetite and weight gain.
Physical symptoms might include fatigue, headaches or digestive problems. Family and friends may perceive the depressed person as agitated or slowed down. Older people may be more forgetful. In severe cases depression may show up as delusions or hallucinations.
Physical & Psychological Causes Of Depression
Experts link the causes of depression to both physical and psychological causes. In some cases doctors believe depression is related to a specific physical cause such as an overactive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis known as the HPA axis.
There are also some indications that estrogen can play a part in depressive disorders especially after puberty, after giving birth and after menopause.
Premenstrual and postpartum periods of low estrogen levels are also linked to possible physical depression. At this point estrogen is still being researched as a possible factor and/or treatment.
Deficiencies in Essential Dietary Nutrients
Some naturopathic physicans believe that deficiencies in certain essential dietary nutrients, specifically vitamin B12 and folic acid have been associated with depression. Other missing nutrients related to depression include copper and magnesium as well as Vitamin A.
Although it is not always clear cut which factors cause depression, psychological causes are linked to various aspects of personality and its development. Psychological depression is often linked with adverse lifetime events and lifetime stress. Recent research emphasizes the importance of alterations in responses to stress in the etiology of depression.
For older adults, the factors are often health problems, changes in relationships with a spouse or adult children due to the transition to a care-giving or care-needing role, the death of a significant other, or a change in the availability or quality of social relationships with older friends because of their own health-related life changes.
Depression Related Hair Loss
Is there a link between depression and hair loss?
Without even looking at the medications which are prescribed for depression and the possibility of hair loss related side effects, it’s clear to see that both physical and psychological forms of depression could possibly be linked to hair loss and/or other hair changes even without prescribed depression medications.
Depression Related Weight Loss & Hair Loss
Telogen Effluvium
If someone who is depressed has lost interest in food and have suddenly started losing weight, they may be inadvertently triggering a type of hair loss known as Telogen Effluvium which may result from not taking in enough daily calories to sustain healthy hair maintenance and growth.
Telogen Effluvium is a recognized form of hair loss which often occurs when people cut back on daily required calories and is often found in those with eating disorders such as anorexia or related food restriction plans. Telogen Effluvium is considered a temporary hair loss issue but definitely is linked to loss of appetite or food restricting, which can be a key symptom with depression.
Improper Sleep, Hormonal Balance, Thyroid Issues & Dehydration
Other known factors that contribute to sudden hair loss include lack of proper sleep, hormonal imbalances, thyroid related challenges and dehydration.
If someone suffering from either type of depression (physical or psychological) has chronic insomnia or is deficient in some of the B vitamins, specifically B12, they will most likely notice hair related changed ranging from sudden loss to dryness or changes in manageability.
Copper, magnesium and Vitamin A are well-known nutrients necessary for healthy and optimal hair growth and maintenance. When they are deficient in the body, the hair may react by thinning, falling out or other related symptoms.
In fact, the HairTopia healthy hair system of nutrients was specifically designed to include B vitamins, copper, magnesium and Vitamin A because of their known importance to the development, growth and maintenance of healthy hair for all ages, races and sex. In fact, the HairTopia Total System specifically contains copper due to its importance in maintaining strong strands.
Regardless whether depression is physical or psychologically triggered, if any of the common physical symptoms listed above are manifested there is a strong possibility that hair loss or hair challenges may arise as a side symptom of the disease.
Of course depression should always be treated by the proper medial experts who can evaluate your symptoms and recommend appropriate courses of action.
Do depression medications cause hair loss? Can losing hair cause depression? Those are both very good questions that I will address in future articles or blogs.
If you would like to discuss this top further please visit me at the HairTalk Forums or send questions to AskKaren.
If you would to do more research on this topic please check out the following links:
Fat Hair or Tight Jeans – Crash Dieting & Telogen Effluvium
or you may want to refer to:
Related posts:
November 24th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
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December 4th, 2008 at 2:58 am
cool… i think this will help cause the last thing that happened to me was depression when i started hairfall……… tnx….. now i have an idea to solve it……. keep on rockin dudes……….
December 5th, 2008 at 3:56 am
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Alena
December 12th, 2008 at 12:27 am
Your article is indeed an eye opener. Depression is an epidemic that hits the victim’s head and cleans off those thick strands of hair within no time. Prescription drugs can easily treat depression, but stopping hair fall is entirely different. I feel herbal hair loss treatment option is worth exploring. It is a cost effective treatment that heals naturally and is safe to use.
December 17th, 2008 at 8:10 am
Very useful post. where can i find more articles on this subject ?
December 18th, 2008 at 7:49 am
Nice! i`ll be stopping by from time to time
December 18th, 2008 at 7:43 am
In the modern demanding world, everyone is suffering from depression. Sad that it cannot be avoided, but perhaps we have solutions for hair loss at least.
January 14th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
just stopped by.Gotta love msn, very fine stuff. Thank you…kisses
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:43 am
Of course u r write depression hair loss.
February 12th, 2009 at 1:42 am
Your Blog is very nice and informative. I am very glad to comment on this blog.
Hair fall is a common phenomenon in everyone’s lives. Though aging is one of the major causes of hair fall, stress, medication and hormonal imbalance can also cause loss of hair.Here are some tips beneficial to prevent hair fall
March 3rd, 2009 at 1:28 am
Nice article. I really found your articles informative and beneficial.
March 3rd, 2009 at 1:43 am
You are absolutely right … I am always careful about these type of issue.. Thank you.
March 6th, 2009 at 5:19 am
For a healthy hair and body, I think we need to keep away from depression as far as possible, though it may seem difficult to do some times. That makes life happier.
-Toni
March 8th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Thank you for your help!
March 10th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
This is just what I was looking for. Thanks a million. Also, if anyone is interested, I recommend trying TriSlim to lose weight. It’s working great for me.
March 26th, 2009 at 12:28 am
Depression definitely is one factor that results in a sick body and hair loss. I think it is better to consult a doctor to get rid of that.
-Martin
April 15th, 2009 at 9:24 am
The style of writing is quite familiar to me. Did you write guest posts for other bloggers?
May 1st, 2009 at 5:27 am
People should read this.%d%a%d%aWow ! Thanks for the great post !%d%aGood information and like to visit more often.
May 13th, 2009 at 12:48 am
This is a great story. Thanks!
June 8th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
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July 26th, 2009 at 5:33 am
Hey I’m new here and I have tried a few different things. E.g Minox and Finasteride which had side effects for me. I’m just wondering if you guys have had tried Laser light therapy? I’ve been reading this article http://www.laserhairgrowthfacts.com/The-Low-Level-Laser.html and it talks about brushes or clinics but does it work? If someone could please let me know that would be great.
March 11th, 2010 at 2:08 am
So, if you have already been undergoing a speedy weight loss plan or diet, you require to know whether it is working in a positive they are in a negative manner.
April 12th, 2010 at 10:18 am
Really nice your article,.thanks but to those people who depression hair loss,to tell you that there is life after hair loss.
August 11th, 2010 at 12:48 am
Good information, thanks for posting that.
November 8th, 2010 at 5:27 am
It’s nice to know that depression is being identified as a side effect from hair loss. I went through my phase of hair loss feeling very bad for myself and I could definitely identify with what’s written here. I wrote a lot about my hair loss experience and the natural steps i took to try to overcome the problem. At least I found out that its best to tackle the problem “head on” then to try to solve its symptoms with drugs. Depression being one of them.
November 8th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Are they any natural or herbal forms of hair loss treatment solutions aside from the standard wash and pray method? I was hoping to discover and collect more traditional methods of hair loss treatment.
April 4th, 2011 at 3:19 am
I personally like herbal products better than commercial ones. Popular brand shampoos contain parabens and other harmfull stuff that can cause cancer.
At least with the organic or herbal ones you get 100% safe ingredients limiting your exposure to harmful chemicals.
April 11th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Very informative post. Depression is a problem that most people will experience in life and can cause lives to fall into ruin. The more information someone reads about this mental illness the better they will be prepared for the unexpected feelings that are associated with depression. I will be referencing your post on my blog about postnatal depression. Thank you.
April 14th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
I had my hair cut togay and have always prided myself on my thick long locks however my world was shattered by Robert, not my usual hair dresser but will be from now on thanks to his honesty!!!
I have been struggling with anxiety and depression for a while and I am having therapy for PTSD. As mentioned above, my moods, appetite, sleep and health are not great at the moment and a lot of hair is falling out daily when I brush and I have to un-clog the plug hole every time I shower.
Robert asked me how is my baby doing, which ok, I’m over weight due to comfort eating but that’s a bit forward since I had only just met him. He then explained to me that women who have just given birth get a ‘fluffy ring’ of new hair which is what I have where my hair has fallen out. Of course I have come home and done my research and ended up here and found my explaination.
So what I want to say is, thanks guys, this is a wake up call for me to realise that I am neglecting my body and I am having a knock on spiraling effect. It’s going to take me a massive effort to get out of my ‘depressive routine’ but you have given me a little bit of motivation. Every little helps
April 14th, 2011 at 8:14 pm
Hi Rachel,
Thanks so much for sharing your experience with all of us. It means a lot that you are willing to share. Very best of luck to you. Please check back in and let us know how you are doing.
May 4th, 2011 at 12:53 am
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting
June 8th, 2011 at 3:55 am
Hair is the richest ornament for women. Both men and women who suffer from male and female pattern hair loss or alopecia may also suffer with frustration and extreme depression. Hair loss affects our personality by lowering our self-confidence.
July 16th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Hello, I am glad some have asked the question about hair loss and depression, and I love the way you have clarified the question.
For me it makes a lot of sense that depression would cause hair loss, because when one is depressed, his or her life basically turn upside down and it’s natural that the hair just like every other thing in this person’s life would be affected.