TLDR Stress can cause hair loss by negatively affecting hair follicles and this effect might be reversed with specific treatments.
The document from 2001 demonstrates that stress can lead to hair loss by affecting hair follicles, as evidenced by experiments on mice. The study found that sonic stress caused an increase in apoptotic cells and a decrease in keratinocyte proliferation in hair follicles. Stress also led to immune changes, such as increased perifollicular macrophage clusters and mast cell degranulation, and a decrease in intraepithelial γδ T lymphocytes. These effects were similar to those caused by the neuropeptide substance P (SP) and could be reversed by a selective SP receptor antagonist. The study, which used mice in sample sizes ranging from 4 to 21, suggests a brain-hair follicle axis where stress inhibits hair growth through SP-dependent activation of immune cells. Additionally, stress increased the abortion rate in pregnant mice, indicating a systemic stress response. The findings highlight the potential of SP receptor antagonists as a treatment for stress-induced hair loss and related mood disorders.
66 citations,
October 1999 in “Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences” The Skin POMC System affects hair growth and skin responses to stress.
1113 citations,
August 1999 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” Hair follicle biology advancements may lead to better hair growth disorder treatments.
83 citations,
May 1999 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Hair loss that spreads out can often fix itself or be treated by finding and handling the cause.
101 citations,
January 1997 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings” Nerves and chemicals in the body can affect hair growth and loss.
23 citations,
January 1994 in “Skin Pharmacology and Physiology” Hair loss in men and women is linked to high stress hormone levels and other hormonal imbalances, suggesting treatments should be customized to each person's hormones.
143 citations,
June 1983 in “Archives of dermatology” Mental and social factors greatly affect skin conditions and doctors find it hard to deal with these aspects.
25 citations,
January 1958 in “Elsevier eBooks”
127 citations,
December 2005 in “Experimental Dermatology” Stress can stop hair growth in mice, and treatments can reverse this effect.
31 citations,
April 2007 in “Experimental Dermatology” Stress in mice delays hair growth and treatments blocking substance P can partly reverse this effect.
76 citations,
March 2005 in “Journal of Molecular Medicine” Certain mice without specific receptors or mast cells don't lose hair from stress.
8 citations,
May 2017 in “Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine” Miscanthus sinensis flower extract may help promote hair growth and prevent hair loss.
7 citations,
April 2013 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” Tianeptine, an antidepressant, may prevent stress-induced hair loss in mice.
