The past year hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. After living through more than a couple of lockdowns, it’s no surprise that stress is starting to take its toll on a huge number of men. With a clear end in sight and a vaccine on the horizon, there’s finally a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.
COVID-19 has, unfortunately, had a devastating impact on men’s mental health. A recent study has shown that anxiety was up by a staggering 57% due to the pandemic. Whether it’s job redundancy, a depletion of social life, or a heavy hit on savings, nobody has been able to escape the impact of the virus. The resulting stress, anxiety and depression are set to cause a mental health crisis almost as rampant as Covid itself.
While there are plenty of blogs and social posts on the specific mental impact of stress, many still tend to overlook the distressing physical implications. These physical manifestations can have a huge impact on your body – negatively affecting your sleep, appetite, and digestion. To put it bluntly, stress isn’t good for your health. However, there’s one physical symptom of stress that has slipped under the radar amongst men – hair loss.
Reports from doctors have shown a significant increase in patients complaining about hair loss in the months following the start of the pandemic. Male hair loss from stress is a real problem and Covid has exacerbated the issue more than ever before. Telogen effluvium, a condition in which the hair shifts into the shedding phase after long periods of psychological and physical stress, is at the heart of the matter.
As one of the founding fathers of Sons and an active GP, Dr Knut Moe understands telogen effluvium more than most. Here’s what he had to say: ‘Hair grows in cycles, with some hair in the growth phase (anagen) and some in the shedding phase (telogen). We typically lose 50–100 hairs every day, where hairs make way for new healthier hairs. A condition called telogen effluvium can extend the shedding phase during times of stress and lead to increasing levels of hair loss. This has also been postulated as a possible cause for increased levels of hair loss following a COVID-19 infection. Telogen effluvium is a relatively common condition, although is not widely spoken about or known. In fact, it is commonly seen in women following pregnancy, after lots of hair is kept in the growth phase (anagen) leading to improved quality of hair, it is then followed by increased hair loss 2–3 months after pregnancy. Telogen effluvium from stress seems to occur anywhere from 2–3 months following a stressful event, such as dealing with the effects of Covid and can last for six to twelve months. In some people, the hair loss can be permanent. With telogen effluvium, an increased amount of shedding is noticeable on combing hair or in the plughole after washing. In this phase, there is a shift in the hair growth cycle, with an increased number of hairs in the telogen phase, leading to increased hair loss.’
So what’s the solution? Thankfully, it’s not all bad news. Alongside a healthier mental health routine, minoxidil is able to increase blood flow to the scalp and the hair growth supplement biotin can supply the hair with the necessary tools to keep on growing. Sons have been using these remarkable treatments for years, bringing together minoxidil, biotin, finasteride and DHT-blocking shampoo into a single, tailored subscription plan. Delivered discreetly to your doorstep and with a 94.1% success rate, Sons have already saved thousands of men from the traumas of stress-induced hair loss.
If you’re interested in finding out more about Sons’ ground-breaking treatment programs, please visit their website for more information or follow @CareforSons. Sons are also committed to donating a percentage of sales to the charity CALM, helping lift men out of depression, anxiety, and stress.
