Men and women experience baldness or thinning hair in very different ways. Men tend to lose hair in certain areas of the scalp and in many instances men will have “male pattern balding” on top of the head, while hair still grows on the sides and back of the head. Women tend to lose hair more evenly across the scalp causing a thinning appearance.

Male pattern baldness is easiest to explain, it’s hereditary and a natural part of aging. If your father or grandfather is bald, then there’s probably not much you can do to prevent baldness. Some women experience hair loss after childbirth and sometimes when using some birth control pills. Most people will loose their hair with chemotherapy treatments. Causes of baldness or hair loss can include diet, drug abuse, hormonal imbalances (usually in women), illness, poor hygiene practices, and stress.

Stress can also be a factor that’s not often connected with hair loss. Stress can contribute to hair loss. It’s rarely the major cause but it ranks near the top of the few known causes. Stress related hair loss usually occurs after a stressful period is over and the original stress may not be easy to connect to a hair loss occurrence. If you’re experience sudden hair loss, think back and consider if an event may have happened that stressed you enough to have an affect on your hair. A wise course of action is to consult with your doctor about any unusual medical condition.

Stress related baldness even has a scientific name, (Telogen Effluvium). This can cause large numbers of hair follicles to enter a stage of rest at the same time. Usually the hair follicles will be ejected out of the follicle by the growth of a new hair. This results in a condition of hair shedding that usually corrects itself, but if the stress is ongoing, this type of hair loss can become chronic and may lead to permanent balding.

There are many treatments offered for baldness and thinning hair conditions but, there is very little information on preventing or reversing hair loss caused by stress. If you’re experiencing baldness or thinning hair and it seems to be abnormal, it’s a good idea to see your doctor to determine the cause. If it is stress related, one of the first things to do is reduce the stress. If you continue to deal with your stress related hair loss the same way you’ve always been doing, you’re going to get the same results.

Here are few things you can do to reduce your level of stress:

1. Eat good meals. A diet rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals is necessary to reduce stress. Eat balanced meals with whole grain breads, dairy and poultry products as well as fish and meat. Increase your fiber intake with leafy green vegetables and fruits in your diet. Avoid added sugars and excessive caffeine.

2. Do something to replace the stress. Physical exercise such as weight training, running or power walking on a regular basis will reduce the level of adrenaline in your body caused by the stress and relax your mind. Your body and mind will be more relaxed, you’ll sleep better and your health will improve as a result of physical exercise. Once, when I had a particularly stressful job, I reduced the stress by getting a part-time job sweeping the floor and emptying the trash in a department store. This had the effect of reducing my stress level, gave me a light physical workout and put some extra money in my pocket.

2. Find ways to relax. There are no special techniques needed to relax, but you do need a quiet place where you can keep your body straight, breath deeply and slowly and focus you thoughts on less stressful activities. Exercises such as those taught in a yoga class will help focus your mind and reduce stress levels.

3. Get enough sleep. Adequate and restful sleep is very important in easing stress.

4. Don’t give up…Keep at it and you’ll notice a welcome change in your lifestyle after you start reducing your stress level. Doing the three things listed above will help you stay in good shape and reduce your stress. If your hair loss is caused by stress, this will solve your sudden hair loss problems.