Hair
Everything You Need to Know About Stress-Related Hair LossIt's time to take your (hair) power back |
Why does this happen? Doctors aren't exactly certain, but they suspect cortisol, the hormone secreted due to stress, has a lot to do with it. "If you're in a time of stress, your hair and nails are not considered to be vital organs," explains Dr. Engleman. This means that resources earmarked to grow nails and hair suddenly shift toward vital organs to keep you alive during perceived danger.
It's an old lizard brain function of the human body: when we used to have to outrun predators, growing long hair and nails isn't as important as, say, running for your life. The human body hasn't evolved with current technology: your brain can't discern between outrunning a sabre tooth tiger and answering emails from your boss, news coverage, or hours of social media. It's just doing what it does to keep you alive.
Image via Tetra Images/Getty
SEE NEXT PAGE: All types of stressful events can cause it, even "good" ones
It's an old lizard brain function of the human body: when we used to have to outrun predators, growing long hair and nails isn't as important as, say, running for your life. The human body hasn't evolved with current technology: your brain can't discern between outrunning a sabre tooth tiger and answering emails from your boss, news coverage, or hours of social media. It's just doing what it does to keep you alive.
Image via Tetra Images/Getty
SEE NEXT PAGE: All types of stressful events can cause it, even "good" ones