Does Lack of Sleep Cause Hair Loss?

As human beings, hair is one of your best features, and it is natural for us to be overprotective of the health of our hair. Therefore, when you notice your hair beginning to recede, thin or fall more than usual, you have every right to be anxious.

You are bound to experience several adverse effects on your health if you keep up a steady practice of not getting sufficient restful sleep. Insomnia and many other reasons often cause people to suffer from lack of sleep, which increases levels of stress.

Stress stemming from insufficient sleep reduces your body’s capacity for normal cellular functioning. This eventually may lead to hair thinning or hair loss.

So, does lack of sleep cause hair loss? We will touch on this topic in this article. Read below to learn more!

Hair Loss Background

Hair loss occurs in different forms, but the most common is female or male pattern baldness. This condition features a receding hairline in men, where the hair turns sparse and thin on the top and front of the head. You may notice an M-like shape of hair above the forehead or at the front or even a U shape around the sides. Hair loss in men can occur in the early 20’s, depending on the individual.

In women, hair loss typically occurs at a later age. Hair loss is often times noticed around the part area, where you will see it widening with less and less hair.

Alopecia means partial or full hair loss. Telogen effluvium is one form of alopecia in which an individual’s hair may fall out in a short period of time. The hair fall may be in the form of clumps and mostly relates to stress. Although it is a temporary hair loss, it can turn into a lasting condition.

Lack of Sleep and Hair Loss: The Connection

We are all aware of the importance of sufficient sleep for the good health of our bodies. A regular pattern of less sleep can have significant adverse effects, including direct and indirect conditions of thinning hair and hair loss.

Stress is also often a contributing factor to hair loss. Insufficient sleep increases the level of stress in your body, and scalp tension can correspond with your male pattern baldness. While you sleep soundly, your body undergoes many cycles necessary to promote the activity of the stem cells. In case you didn’t know before, the stem cell activity is vital for generating the epithelial cells that boost hair growth.

The American Journal of Pathology published research that proved the connection between the hair growth process and the level of stress. Prolonged levels of stress have the power to affect your skin and its capacity to function efficiently. This inefficiency, in turn, harms the vulnerable hair follicle.

The same study highlights that your hair growth process benefits when you release cytokines, neurotransmitters, and hormones during a stress response.

Your adult stem cells need the internal circadian clock to perform actively. This activity, in turn, orchestrates the proliferation of your hair growth cycle.

Can Lack of Sleep Cause Hair Loss?

Insufficient sleep can be a significant contributor to stress and may provoke the initiation of hair loss that genetics influence. Precisely, female or male pattern baldness may begin due to a lack of sleep. Although your sex hormones and genetics determine largely on whether you will experience the pattern baldness, there is, however, an active part of sleep in this regard too.

Your irregular sleeping pattern will not alter the underlying DNA, but sleep deprivation does impact your hormone levels. For example, your HGH (human growth hormone) produces actively when you have a regular sleep cycle.

A low percentage of HGH not only can cause other health complications but also can cause hair thinning. Therefore, it is simple enough to realize how proper sleep can reduce hair loss and hair thinning to a great extent.

Does Lack of Sleep Cause Permanent Hair Loss?

Telogen effluvium is another potential threat of an irregular sleeping pattern. This condition results from the emotional and physical stress you suffer when you do not sleep well regularly.

A regulated sleeping pattern, aimed at reducing the fluctuations in the quantity and quality of sleep, is the best way to keep stress levels down and avoid the onset of hair loss. Hair loss is typically not permanent due to lack of sleep.

How To Set An Improved Sleeping Pattern

You may have heard of sleep hygiene, a term used for habits and routines pertaining to sleep. Just as you need healthy patterns in every other aspect of life for productive outcomes, similarly, you need to develop healthy routines that make falling asleep effortless for you daily.

Here are some strategies to set a natural sleeping cycle:

• The most crucial step is to establish a permanent sleeping and waking up time. Going to bed at the same time and waking up at the same hour daily will enable your body to adjust to a regular schedule.

• Try not to consume a large meal or alcohol before bedtime. Reduce alcohol intake as much as possible because it can destroy the quality of your sleep. Large meals, too, never make for a comfortable night’s rest, so it is always better to have a couple of hours between your last meal and bedtime.

• Try to develop a habit that relaxes you enough to fall asleep easily. Establish the same routine to prepare for bed. This could be listening to music, meditating, taking a bath, etc.

Conclusion: Does Less Sleep Cause Hair Loss?

Yes. Lack of sleep and stress go hand in hand. An irregular sleeping pattern can increase emotional and physical stress, factors that can contribute to triggering hair loss or pattern baldness. Studies suggest that although sleep cannot alter your DNA, it can adversely affect your body’s healthy functioning.

A regulated sleeping pattern can go a long way in stimulating healthy scalp activity. If you still experience unprecedented or excessive hair loss, it is better to consult a doctor to figure if other underlying health issues may be causing it.

 

For other hair loss related articles, check out the connection between alcohol and hair loss.

 

Does Lack of Sleep Cause Hair Loss FAQs

Is sleep important for hair growth?

Yes. Research shows that sleep is very important for hair growth.

Can tiredness cause hair loss?

Being overly tired from lack of sleep can cause hair loss. The body needs to be adequately rested in order to function properly. This includes areas of the body such as the scalp and hair follicles.

Is hair loss from stress permanent?

Typically, hair loss from stress is not permanent.

Is hair loss reversible?

Depending on the degree of hair loss and the outlying causes, hair loss can be reversible. The earlier hair loss is detected, the easier it will be to reverse the condition.