Researchers found that by increasing a protein known as GAS6, they promoted hair growth even when under stress. Researchers from Harvard University found corticosterone, a hormone in mice released during stress, suppresses the production of a protein called GAS6. GAS6 promotes the growth of hair follicles. When a person or animal is stressed, high corticosterone levels prevent it being made.

What the expert said

Dr Bessam Farjo, hair loss expert & hair restoration surgeon explained: “Hair has a programmed life cycle, starting with a growth phase, followed by a rest period and finally a shedding phase.

“A number of factors affect the rate of growth. These include your health, age and environmental reasons, such as stress levels. “When a person is stressed, anxious or unwell, you send the growth cycle prematurely into shock and trigger more hair to enter the shedding phase. “This can give the appearance of sudden hair loss and consequently cause more anxiety as a result.

“However, being stressed-out doesn’t mean you’ll wake up with a huge tuft of hair on your pillow the following day. “It can take between three and six months for your hair to shed. This means people may not be able to link it back to an earlier, stressful event.”

Treatment

“You’ll be pleased to know that trauma-induced hair loss is usually temporary and tends to return once you reduce stress levels,” said Dr Farjo.

“If you’re worried about your hair loss and haven’t got to the root of the problem (pardon the pun) then it’s definitely worth getting in touch with us. We can give you a thorough assessment and plan of action. “Eating a balanced diet, taking supplements if you believe you’re deficient in a certain area, avoiding very tight hairstyles, chemical processing and excessive heat on the hair can also help.

“From an emotional side of things, anything you can do to reduce the impact of the stress (e.g. exercise, mindfulness etc) can have an effect. I appreciate this is easier said than done.”

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