TLDR Stress can worsen skin conditions and stop hair growth by affecting the body's stress response system.
The 2006 study "Neuroimmunoendocrine circuitry of the ‘brain-skin connection’" investigated the link between stress and skin conditions, specifically hair growth. The research discovered that stress can trigger or exacerbate allergic and inflammatory skin diseases through a 'brain-skin connection' involving local neuroimmunoendocrine circuitry. In stressed mice, elements like corticotropin-releasing hormone, nerve growth factor, and mast cells were found to cause neurogenic skin inflammation, which subsequently inhibits hair growth. The hair follicle was recognized as both a target and a source for immunomodulatory stress mediators, mirroring the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis. This study offered insights into the intricate neuroimmunoendocrine responses that peripheral tissues initiate upon stress exposure, potentially aiding in the identification of new therapeutic stress intervention targets.
76 citations,
March 2005 in “Journal of Molecular Medicine” Certain mice without specific receptors or mast cells don't lose hair from stress.
108 citations,
July 2004 in “American Journal of Pathology” Stress increases a factor in mice that leads to hair loss, and blocking this factor may prevent it.
30 citations,
September 2003 in “Experimental Dermatology” Minoxidil helps prevent stress-caused hair loss in mice.
194 citations,
March 2003 in “American Journal of Pathology” Stress stops hair growth in mice by causing early hair growth phase end and harmful inflammation through a specific nerve-related pathway.
125 citations,
September 2001 in “The FASEB Journal” Stress can cause hair loss by negatively affecting hair follicles and this effect might be reversed with specific treatments.
1113 citations,
August 1999 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” Hair follicle biology advancements may lead to better hair growth disorder treatments.
127 citations,
December 2005 in “Experimental Dermatology” Stress can stop hair growth in mice, and treatments can reverse this effect.
115 citations,
November 2004 in “Brain Behavior and Immunity” Stress increases nerve fibers and immune cell activity in mouse skin, possibly worsening skin conditions.
9 citations,
January 2017 in “International Journal of Trichology” The study suggests that mast cells might be involved in the hair loss condition telogen effluvium and could be a target for treatment.
April 2021 in “Sohag Medical Journal” Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition causing hair loss, linked to genetic factors and immune system issues, with no cure yet.
191 citations,
May 2018 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement” Alopecia areata is likely an autoimmune disease with unclear triggers, involving various immune cells and molecules, and currently has no cure.
