Family tragedy causes stress induced hair loss
Back to our story, recently, Khloé Kardashian shared a little secret that she’s been wearing a hair extension, since she was a teenager after she experienced a massive amount of hair loss after an emotional trauma.
On Khloe’s blog, she explains that she started getting extensions “After my dad died and I lost the majority of my hair, Maisha (her stylist) made me these great weaves to conserve the hair I still had and help it get healthy again,” she wrote. “My natural long hair is protected underneath it all.”
The emotional trauma that caused Khloé to lose her hair is not all that uncommon, it even has a name – Telogen Effluvium. Hair loss consultant, Andrew Wilson from Transitions Hair who has over 20 years of experience working with people with hair loss, says “it happens all too often after after a period of emotional or physical stress—illness, pregnancy, surgery, or a stressful situation such as death in the family,”. He says, “this type of hair loss, known as telogen effluvium, or diffuse hair loss, is common.”
Wilson explains, Telogen effluvium happens because a person’s body seeks to protect the core organs of the body that keep us alive, it moves the nutrients away from the hair follicles (and other non-core organs) to more important organs after they suffer a stressful emotional or physical event. Then, the hair follicles shuts down (similar to how we sometimes emotionally shut down) and becomes dormant. At this point the hair falls out usually a three months after the trauma. Although, it can be instant in some cases. “When the body finally recovers, new hair follicles grow and push out the dead ones—this causes shedding.”
Luckily, Joshua Zeichner, M.D., a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist says this kind of hair loss is usually temporary. “It will return on its own, usually in about a year,” he says. When you think about it, this is a long time to struggle with less than perfect hair. Once your hair starts to regrow again, it grows at about one centimetre per month. So the return of your long luscious locks may take a while. You might like to take a look at the Crown Extensions recommended by Transitions Hair.
Treatments for Telogen Effluvium related hair loss
If you’ve suffered hair loss and you suspect that it’s tied to stress or trauma, Wilson says Minoxidil 5% can help and it can be bought over the counter at a Pharmacy. Minoxidil (also known as Rogaine or Regaine in Australia) is a vasodilater, it helps enhance delivery of oxygen and nutrients to your scalp to promote hair growth and it may extend the actively growing phase of hair growth. New low level laser light devices have been proven to be helpful to help regrow hair says Gary Goldenberg, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. We recommend the Hairmax laserband 82 as it is affordable and has the fastest treatment time – only 90 seconds 3 times a week. Be sure to check out our complete range of affordable laser light therapy devices to help with your hair grown. Wilson, from Transitions Hair, says that we have seen newly transplanted hair grow back much quicker with laser light therapy and we imagine it would have a similar effect on the new hair growth after Telogen effluvium. Essentially, it will help you get your hair back much quicker than if you didn’t use it.
How to make your hair look thicker instantly
However, what do you do when you can see your scalp, it’s looking thinner? This is where Biothik Hair Fibres can help. Hair extensions are great for adding length around the sides and back but they cannot make your hair look thicker on top – where you need it most. Biothik Hair fibres are made from keratin, the same protein your own hair is made from, it’s like adding extra hair into your own hair. With a simple shake you will instantly create a thicker more voluminous look. We have a special starter pack to get on your way. Buy now!
Hair loss happens, and it’s normal to some degree. But if you suffer from it and it bothers you, call your doctor or you can seek help from professional hair loss clinics such as Transitions Hair.
