Stress
Stress is the body's response to pressure. Learn how severe stress can affect hair, why shedding often appears months later, and when to seek help.
Supriya Bhandary
Founder, Soumm · 4 September 2026 · Updated 14 October 2026
What is stress?
Stress is the body's response to physical or emotional pressure. It activates the nervous system and the hormone system that releases cortisol and adrenaline. Short-term stress is a normal, useful response; prolonged stress can affect sleep, appetite, immunity and well-being.
How stress can affect hair
A significant physical or emotional stress can push many hair follicles into the resting phase at once. The hairs are then shed around two to three months later, a pattern called telogen effluvium. (Hughes et al., StatPearls)
Stress is also one of the reported triggers of alopecia areata flares. (American Academy of Dermatology)
In practice
Stress-related shedding is usually temporary, and hair often regrows over several months once the trigger has passed. Patchy hair loss, shedding that lasts beyond six months, or hair loss with other symptoms should be assessed by a dermatologist.
See also: Cortisol, Telogen Effluvium, Sleep.
Sources
American Academy of Dermatology. Hair loss types: alopecia areata causes.
Hughes EC, Syed HA, Saleh D. Telogen effluvium. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024.
Questions
Stress-related shedding typically begins two to three months after the triggering event.
Usually not. Telogen effluvium is generally temporary, and hair tends to regrow once the cause resolves.
Managing stress supports recovery, but shedding that has already been triggered usually runs its course before regrowth becomes visible.