• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2026 ABC News
  • News

Can Stress Cause Me To Lose My Hair?

ByMaryrose Gerardi, Ph.D., Assistant Prof., Trauma and Anxiety Recovery Program, Emory University
April 16, 2008, 9:52 PM

— -- Question: Can stress cause me to lose my hair?

Answer: We all lose about a hundred hairs a day. But there are two forms of hair loss which can occur from excessive physical or emotional stress. The first and more common is hair loss which happens when the hair will stop growing, lie dormant, and fall out in about two to three months and then grow back again in about six to nine months.

The second type of hair loss is in reaction to a more extreme stress. That type of hair loss is called alopecia, and the hair can fall out in patches and even cover the entire scalp. If you think that stress is a factor -- because there are other factors, such as hereditary and illness, which can influence hair loss -- but if you think stress is a factor once again you need to return to looking at lifestyle changes, and see if making those changes make a difference.

Next: Can Stress Cause My Skin To Be Dry And Flakey?

Previous: What Effects Can Stress Have On My Ability To Get Pregnant?

Up Next in News—

This San Francisco shop is run completely by an AI agent

April 23, 2026

Mother charged after teen son allegedly hits and injures 81-year-old veteran while riding e-motorcycle

April 23, 2026

UK bill banning smoking products for those born after 2008 is one step away from becoming law

April 22, 2026

Pilot killed in Florida plane crash hailed as hero

April 21, 2026

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2026 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2026 ABC News