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Hair problem
After a period of heavy stress, it is common to notice that your hair is falling out more than usual. In most cases the shedding is temporary and the hair grows back. Here we explain why it happens, what helps and what the clinic can offer.
Reviewed by Dr Michelle Campagnoli, clinical director
How to recognise it
Stress-related hair loss follows a pattern: it begins months after the difficult period and spreads across the whole scalp. These signs help you see whether it is your case.
Tick what you recognise
Tick the signs you recognise in your case. This is not a diagnosis, it is only meant to give you an idea.
You recognise some of the signs. It may be linked to stress or have another cause. Only a medical assessment can say for sure.
Several signs match stress-related hair loss. It is common and, in many cases, reversible, but an assessment is worthwhile to see what else is contributing. Only a medical assessment can confirm it.
Book an assessment consultationSudden hair loss in patches, a painful or sore scalp, or stress that does not go away should be seen without delay. If your stress is very intense or prolonged, also speak to your own doctor.
Parting. It is usually the first sign: it widens because the hair becomes thinner across the whole scalp.
Top of the head. Diffuse thinning shows here, with the scalp becoming more visible under light.
Temples. Hair may also thin near the ears, but without the marked gaps seen in other types of alopecia.
Why it happens
It is almost never just one thing. Choose a cause to see what makes it worse and what helps.
A period of great tension, grief, change or heavy workload can push many hairs into the shedding phase at the same time, which shows two to four months later.
Weeks on end of tension with no breaks or rest.
Create pauses, ask for support and, if needed, talk to a health professional.
An illness with fever, surgery or an infection is also a shock to the body and can push hair into the shedding phase.
Bouncing back too fast, without rest.
Give your body time and return to your usual pace gradually.
In times of stress it is common to sleep little and eat poorly, and to lack iron, protein or vitamins that matter for hair. Only a blood test can confirm this.
Short nights, skipped meals and little variety.
A regular sleep routine and meals with protein, vegetables and fruit.
Stress can make oiliness, flaking and itching worse, and scratching or pulling the hair often weakens it even more.
Scratching, pulling the hair or wearing very tight hairstyles.
Gentle care and, if there are scalp symptoms, having them assessed.
Hair loss can have other causes at the same time, such as the thyroid, hormones or a lack of iron. That is why it is worth having an assessment rather than assuming it is only stress.
Putting everything down to stress and postponing the assessment.
A consultation to look at the whole picture and not just one factor.
Temporary or needs assessment
In most cases, stress-related hair loss is temporary. These signs help tell it apart from hair loss that deserves a consultation.
What it looks like. More hair falls out diffusely, two to four months after a period of stress. The parting widens and the ponytail gets thinner.
When it eases. In many cases it eases as stress lessens, and the hair gradually recovers over several months.
What the clinic does. The doctor confirms the pattern, requests blood tests if useful and proposes the plan.
At home. Rest, meals with protein, gentle hair care and patience.
What it looks like. The hair loss does not ease after six months, leaves bare patches or comes with an inflamed scalp.
Warning. Hair loss in patches, pain, sores or extreme tiredness call for an assessment.
What the clinic does. The doctor looks for other causes, such as deficiencies, the thyroid or hormones.
Tell us at the consultation. When it began, what changed in your life and what you eat: it helps in choosing.
Went through a difficult period? Tell us at the consultation so the doctor has the full picture. Hair usually recovers when the body returns to balance.
Book an assessment consultationWhat the clinic can do
When hair loss is linked to stress, the first step is to understand what else is contributing and to give the body time. These are the treatments the doctor may propose to strengthen the follicle, always after looking at your case.
Regeneration
Vitamins, amino acids, minerals and hyaluronic acid, to nourish the scalp and support weakened hair.
Suitable when
the hair is weak after a difficult period and the doctor considers scalp nutrition suitable.
Find out more→
Regeneration
Platelet-rich plasma, obtained from your own blood, to stimulate the follicle. The doctor first assesses whether it is appropriate.
Suitable when
the hair loss continues after the stress has eased and any deficiencies have been corrected.
Find out more→
Advanced regeneration
Regenerative solution to support follicle repair and improve hair thickness.
Suitable when
the doctor considers it useful to reinforce the plan with a regenerating active ingredient.
Find out more→What about oral therapy? It is often the starting point, to replace what is lacking, and it is always chosen by the doctor after assessment and, if useful, blood tests. Results are gradual.
What the journey looks like
No treatment starts without an assessment consultation with the doctor. This is how it works.
The doctor asks when the hair loss began, what changed in your life, how you sleep and eat and what medication you take, and examines your scalp.
If useful, requests blood tests for iron, vitamins, zinc and the thyroid, and explains what to expect and how long it may take.
It combines what to replenish, care at home and, if justified, a treatment, adapted to where you are right now.
We look at your hair again after a few months and adjust, because recovery is slow and follows the body's return to balance.
Day to day
Resting, eating well and being patient count for more than any product. These are the habits that matter most.
The golden rule
Hair is one of the first things to suffer in a difficult period and one of the last to recover. Sleeping, eating and slowing down help your hair and the rest of your body.
Sleep helps the body recover from a difficult period.
In practice: keep regular hours and cut back on screens before bed.
Hair is made of protein and needs nutrients.
In practice: include eggs, fish, pulses or yoghurt and a variety of vegetables at every meal.
Slowing down and moving your body helps lower stress.
In practice: walk outdoors and set aside time for yourself every day.
Weakened strands break easily.
In practice: brush slowly, use moderate heat and wear loose hairstyles.
Cutting more calories worsens the shedding and the lack of nutrients.
In practice: eat enough and favour nutrient-rich foods.
Taking several supplements on your own may not solve anything and can do harm.
In practice: speak to the doctor before taking supplements, especially iron.
It weakens the strand and irritates the scalp.
In practice: avoid tight hairstyles and tugging, and ask for help if you have itching.
Bleaching and straightening weaken hair that is already tired.
In practice: space out dyes and chemical treatments until your hair recovers.
Who will look after you
At Luxmed, the first step is always an assessment consultation with Dra. Michelle Campagnoli. She works out what is contributing to the hair loss, requests tests if useful and designs the plan with you.
Hair medicine
Why hair can fall out after a difficult period and how long it takes to recover.
Read the article →
Hair medicine
How sleep and routines help hair recover.
Read the article →
Hair medicine
Small daily habits that help the body and the hair.
Read the article →Other hair problems
Book a consultation
Choose how you prefer to get in touch. We will arrange the assessment consultation with Dr Michelle Campagnoli.
New Life Miraflores, Algés · Office Center, R. Santa Teresa do Menino Jesus n.º 6, 9.º C, 1495-048
Your details are used only for this contact. Any treatment depends on a prior medical assessment.
Yes, it can. A period of great stress, physical or emotional, can push many hairs into the shedding phase at the same time. Everyone is different, and only an assessment can say what is contributing in your case.
It usually begins two to four months after the difficult period, which is why many people do not link the two.
In many cases it eases after a few months, once stress lessens, and the hair recovers over several months. If the hair loss continues after six months, it is worth having it assessed.
In many cases yes, because the follicle is not damaged. Recovery is slow and depends on reducing stress and correcting what is lacking. If it does not recover, it is worth looking at other causes.
That is not what usually happens. Stress-related hair loss is, as a rule, diffuse and temporary, and does not leave permanent bald patches. If there are bald patches or the hair loss does not stop, it should be assessed.
Depending on the case: oral therapy to replenish what is lacking, hair NCTF, hair PRP and hair exosomes. The doctor sets the plan after the assessment.
Often, yes. The doctor may request iron, vitamin D, zinc, vitamin B12 and thyroid tests, because deficiencies and thyroid changes are common causes of hair loss.
When the hair loss lasts more than a few weeks, leaves the hair visibly thinner or comes with extreme tiredness. Hair loss in patches or a painful scalp should be seen without delay.
They can help when a deficiency is confirmed, but taken without criteria they do not solve anything and can do harm. The best approach is to have blood tests and speak to the doctor.
It helps. When the body returns to balance, the hair tends to recover. Sleeping, eating well and slowing down are the starting point, and the doctor can add whatever is useful.
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The assistant does not give diagnoses or replace a consultation. The plan and cost of any treatment are set at the medical assessment.