Hair Loss from Stress vs. Aging: How to Tell Difference
Is there a way a doctor can tell the difference between hair loss from stress and from aging?
Chronic stress can definitely cause hair to fall out. The aging process as well is notorious for causing hair loss.
Is it possible, then, to determine if one’s hair loss is from getting older as opposed to stress and anxiety?
“Yes; when the body is under stress, whether due to illness, a surgery, changes in hormones, medications or severe psychological stress such as the loss of a loved one, it’s not the body’s top priority to grow hair,” explains Allison Arthur, MD, FAAD, board certified dermatologist with Sand Lake Dermatology Center in Orlando, FL.
“This can result in a condition called telogen effluvium, where some of the hair follicles flip into a resting phase and stop growing new hairs,” says Dr. Arthur.
“Patients with telogen effluvium typically report a sudden increase in shedding—losing more hairs than usual when showering or styling their hair—and thinning all over the scalp.
“The good news is that telogen effluvium is usually temporary, and eventually those hair follicles will turn back on and start growing new hairs after the stresser has resolved.”
There are several things you can do while undergoing prolonged stress to help put a damper on hair loss.
• When putting in a ponytail, gently pull the hair through the fastener rather than yanking it through.
• When taking out a ponytail, snip the fastener with a toenail clippers (make sure no stray strands get caught up in the snipping) and gently extract the fastener. Otherwise, pulling off a fastener will surely pull some hairs with it.
• Obviously you’ll need a ready supply of fasteners on hand.
• After washing your hair, gently detangle with your fingers rather than with a comb or brush.
• When your scalp itches, don’t scratch with a fingernail, as this can rip strands out of their follicles. Instead, press a fingertip to the itching area and briefly massage.
“Senescent alopecia, or age-related thinning, progresses slowly with subtle decreases in hair density over time,” says Dr. Arthur.
“Patients with senescent alopecia do not report sudden onset of excessive hair shedding.”
Dr. Arthur is a Mayo Clinic-trained dermatologist and dermopathologist who cares for patients of all ages, providing skin cancer and other medical/surgical treatments, plus cosmetic treatments.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
If a Scratched Mole Bleeds, Does this Mean Melanoma?
It is nothing short of unnerving to casually scratch a mole and then see it bleed.
The scratching may not even be intended for the mole, but the mole just happens to be in the path of your fingernail. (more…)
Sudden “Pimples” on Your Neck: Causes and Solutions
Are you noticing what appears to be pimples growing on your neck?
“Pimples on the neck are usually either acne or folliculitis,” says Dr. Steven Musick, MD, a board certified dermatologist who runs Musick Dermatology, LLC, in Swansea, IL, which provides state-of-the-art medical and surgical care for all disorders of the skin, hair and nails. (more…)
Can a Pimple Form in a Mole and Does this Mean Cancer?
What looks like a pimple growing in a mole may be a harmless pimple, or, it can be melanoma or another kind of skin cancer that often resembles pimples. (more…)
Why Do Some People Not Have a Toenail on Their Pinky Toe?
Ever see a pinky toe with no nail and wonder why, in some individuals, there is no nail on their pinky toe?
Or sometimes there is, if you want to call it a true nail: a tiny slit of a nail – not big enough to put polish on without getting it on the surrounding skin. (more…)
Is a Mole on the Nipple More Likely to Become Melanoma?
Have you discovered a mole on your nipple — not nearby, but ON the nipple, and are worried it might be melanoma?
Can Tinnitus Be Caused by Melanoma Spread to the Brain?
Can a melanoma that spreads to the brain ever cause tinnitus?
The brain is one of the first places that a melanoma tumor metastasizes to.
This can result in a variety of symptoms.
Tinnitus is the so-called ringing in the ears that affects many people and that has a multitude of causes.
“When melanoma spreads, it has certain places that it prefers to spread to,” says Dr. Steven Musick, MD, a board certified dermatologist who runs Musick Dermatology, LLC, in Swansea, IL, which provides state-of-the-art medical and surgical care for all disorders of the skin, hair and nails. (more…)
Acne Along the Hairline: Causes and Treatment
Adults, not just teens, can suffer from stubborn acne or pimples along their hairline.
Sometimes, the conditions that are ripe for the development of blemishes are concentrated along the hairline. (more…)
What Can a Blister Like Spot on the Scalp Be?
There are three main types of scalp lesions that can look like a blister, and this includes cancer.
This is why it’s important to have a dermatologist inspect your scalp on a yearly basis as part of your skin cancer screening.
“A blister-like spot on the scalp could be a blister (will resolve in a couple of weeks or as all blisters do), a non-cancerous growth (like a mole) or a skin cancer,” says Dr. Steven Musick, MD, a board certified dermatologist who runs Musick Dermatology, LLC, in Swansea, IL, which provides state-of-the-art medical and surgical care for all disorders of the skin, hair and nails.
“If the lesion persists, seek evaluation by a qualified dermatologist,” says Dr. Musick.
A type of non-cancerous growth that just might look like a blister is a seborrheic keratosis.
These typically begin appearing after age 40 and can appear anywhere on the body, including the scalp. They can resemble melanoma.
However, a melanoma can sometimes pass as a seborrheic keratosis.
NOT ALL MELANOMAS ARE DARK.
Melanomas, such as this one here, can be pinkish, red or even flesh colored.
So if you see ANY strange new growth on your scalp – or you’re not sure how long you’ve had a newly-discovered lesion – have a dermatologist examine it.
Another type of growth that can seem like a blister is a strange kind of mole called a dysplastic nevus (atypical mole).
These typically appear in childhood or young adulthood, and can strongly resemble melanoma. And vice versa. Pictured below is an atypical mole.
Biophoto Associates/Science Source
Steven Musick, MD
Since 2008 Musick Dermatology & Advanced Clinical Spa has been providing state-of-the-art medical and surgical care for all disorders of the skin, hair and nails.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Point Fr
How to Do the Epley Maneuver on Yourself for BPPV Relief
