In life were always told to eat well, exercise, reduce our alcohol intake and to stop smoking in order to leave a healthy lifestyle.
However, those who do lead a ‘healthy lifestyle’ aren’t immune from hair loss. A healthy lifestyle doesn’t mean you’ll be able to hold on to your hair forever, it could actually be one of the causes of your hair loss.
Today we’re going to look into exercise and discuss if it could be a factor of hair loss.
A Nation Addicted To Looking Good?
People are constantly encouraged by various platforms to get out and get into fitness activities. In March 2017, a poll by Hammerson found that almost 70% of people living in London admitted to being ‘style conscious’ about how they looked whilst working out. Not only that, but 29% of the UK said they spend as much on gym clothing as they do on regular clothing.
However, some exercises have actually been linked to hair loss. Is this something these image conscious fitness fans are aware of?
Does Exercise Cause Hair Loss?
When it comes to exercising most people don’t understand that it is a type of stress, and it can affect your body in a negative way. Over time your body will adapt positively to these stresses, as your body gets fitter and stronger.
If you’re going through a stressful period in your life, physical or mental your body cannot adapt to the stress of exercise and this can have a negative effect on your body and can contribute towards problems such as hair loss.
Exercise is a form of stress that is controllable, and if you are going through a lot of mental or physical stress it is recommended to cut down the number of days that you train.
If you’re currently experiencing stress in your life it might be a good idea to take somewhat of a back seat when it comes to your fitness. Taking it easy with light cardio and weight lifting for a few days a week will ensure no extra stress is put onto your body.
How Much Should I Really Be Exercising?
As mentioned above, exercise is good for us for a number of different reasons and it is something we should all be doing, but as with anything, moderation is key. It is so important that you do not overdo it, but at the same time, you must ensure you’re exercising enough for it to make an impact on your own individual lifestyle.
The NHS recommend 150 minutes of exercise per week, which could be broken down to 5 30 minute sessions in the gym, or at home. This is a rough guide to keep you fit and healthy but to ensure you do not push yourself too much. However, this is just a guide and it is important to listen to your body and either slow it down, or kick things up a bit if you feel like you can.
Does Stress Cause Hair Loss?
Stress can have a big effect on our body and it can lead to hair loss. When our body is under stress, emotional or physical, our body stops the production of hair and the hair growth phase stops.
After around three months our hair will shed and fall out, resulting in hair loss. The good news is stress related hair loss is not permanent. Once the stress stops our hair will resume the natural growth phase and begin to grow again.
If you’re struggling with stress and hair loss please feel free to contact us for a no obligation consultation. During your consultation, our team of specialists will be able to help with the cause of your hair loss and discuss potential treatments, if necessary.