How Anxiety Causes Hair Thinning and Hair Loss

Anxiety is something most of us have felt at some point, but for some, the symptoms show up often enough to become part of daily life. Living in that constant state of stress affects more than your mind—it impacts your physical health, including how your hair grows.

Ongoing anxiety and stress can trigger a type of temporary hair loss called telogen effluvium. The good news is that once you learn to manage your anxiety, your hair can grow back. Pairing stress management with hair regrowth treatments can also help speed up the process.

Key Takeaways

• Chronic anxiety disrupts the hair growth cycle, pushing follicles into a resting phase that leads to temporary shedding.

• Anxiety itself does not cause permanent baldness, but long-term stress can result in noticeable thinning.

• Certain antidepressants and anxiety medications, like Prozac, Zoloft, and Wellbutrin, may trigger hair loss as a side effect, though it is usually reversible once medication is changed.

• Managing stress, supporting your body with nutrition, and using natural oils like batana or rosemary can reduce shedding and encourage regrowth.

What is Anxiety and Its Effects on Hair

Anxiety is your body’s way of keeping you safe. It kicks in when you feel afraid, worried, or tense—whether the threat is real, imagined, or tied to a big life change. These days, with life feeling more complicated than ever, anxiety has become a common reaction to everyday stressors, not just dangerous situations.

When anxiety hits, it’s not just in your mind. You feel it in your body—your heart races, stress hormones spike, blood pressure rises, and you might even struggle to breathe. In more intense moments, this can lead to a panic attack.

If anxiety shows up often enough, a doctor might diagnose you with an anxiety disorder. The problem is that when your body stays in this constant “fight or flight” mode, it diverts energy away from non-essential functions—like hair growth. Over time, that stress response can make a real difference in the health and fullness of your hair.

How Anxiety Cause Hair Thinning

Losing some hair every day is normal—most people shed between 30 and 150 strands as part of the natural growth cycle. Hair loss becomes a concern when you lose more than this, leading to visible thinning and changes in how your hair looks and feels.

While anxiety can trigger certain types of hair loss, it doesn’t cause male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia. Those conditions happen when excess DHT (dihydrotestosterone) affects the follicles, and although permanent, they can be treated with medications like minoxidil or finasteride.

Anxiety-related hair loss happens when stress disrupts your normal hair cycle. Your hair moves through three stages—growth, resting, and shedding. When anxiety or chronic stress pushes your body into fight-or-flight mode, it redirects nutrients away from your follicles. This can force 20 to 70% of them into the resting phase instead of growing.

After that phase ends, the follicles shed the hair, which is when you start noticing more strands than usual. Shedding can last for months, and during that time, the affected follicles won’t produce new growth.

Occasional anxiety usually isn’t enough to cause this type of hair loss. It’s more common if you’ve been dealing with long-term anxiety symptoms or have gone through an event that caused intense emotional stress.

How to Treat Anxiety-Related Hair Loss

If you’re feeling stressed or anxious, hair loss won’t happen overnight, and it’s rarely the only symptom. In most cases, stress or anxiety-related shedding only appears when symptoms are severe or have been going on for a long time.

That’s why it’s best to address anxiety as soon as possible. Acting early gives you a better chance of responding to treatment quickly and reduces the risk of symptoms like hair loss developing.

Hair restoration procedures, such as transplants, don’t work for anxiety-related hair loss. You need to focus on the root cause first.

Managing anxiety isn’t always easy, but there are steps that can help:

• See your GP so they can review your symptoms and, if needed, refer you to a specialist.

• Try CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), which has been shown to help manage anxiety effectively.

• Look after your body with regular exercise and balanced nutrition—both can improve your mental and physical well-being.

Antidepressants and Anxiety Medications That May Cause Hair Loss

Some antidepressants and anxiety medications are more likely than others to cause hair loss. Here are a few that have been linked to shedding:

• Duloxetine (Cymbalta): An SNRI used for depression, anxiety, and certain pain conditions that can sometimes cause thinning hair.

• Fluoxetine (Prozac): One of the most prescribed SSRIs and among the most common to cause hair loss.

• Sertraline (Zoloft): Another SSRI that can occasionally lead to shedding.

• Bupropion (Wellbutrin): Used for depression and smoking cessation, Wellbutrin had some of the highest hair loss rates among antidepressants in a 2018 study.

• Lamotrigine (Lamictal): Prescribed for bipolar disorder or epilepsy, Lamictal can occasionally cause significant hair loss, enough for some to stop taking it, according to a 2023 review.

• Other SNRIs: Venlafaxine (Effexor) and desvenlafaxine (Pristiq, Khedezla) may also contribute to hair loss in some cases.

• Other SSRIs: Medications like citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluvoxamine (Luvox), and paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) may also cause hair loss, though it’s less common than with Prozac or Zoloft.

Can Hair Loss from Antidepressants and Anxiety Medication Be Reversed

Hair loss from antidepressants is usually temporary. Once you stop or switch to a different medication, your hair growth often returns to its normal cycle—but it can take a few months. During that time, regrowth may feel slow, so patience is important.

Never stop antidepressants suddenly. Doing so can trigger withdrawal symptoms and bring back the issues you were treating in the first place. Always talk to your prescribing doctor before making changes. They can help you taper safely and recommend alternatives that may not cause the same side effects.

How to Prevent Hair Loss from Anxiety Medications

Here are some steps you can take to help prevent or manage hair loss linked to anxiety meds:

• Manage stress: Stress can make hair loss worse. Finding ways to relax—whether it’s exercise, meditation, or hobbies—can benefit both your mental health and your hair.
• Switch medications: If one antidepressant triggers shedding, your doctor may suggest switching to another with fewer side effects. They’ll guide you through tapering off safely.
• Consider supplements: Certain vitamins and supplements can promote hair health, but always check with your prescribing doctor first to avoid interactions or unwanted side effects.
• Support with nutrition: Eat a balanced diet full of hair-friendly nutrients like biotin, zinc, and iron. These help keep your strands strong and support healthy regrowth.
• Use natural oils: Rosemary, castor, batana, and other natural oils will help you prevent hair loss and may regrow new hair as well.

• Use topical treatments: Over-the-counter options like minoxidil (Rogaine) may help stimulate new growth.

Support Hair Recovery with Keyoma’s Natural Solutions

Anxiety-related hair loss is often temporary, so with the right approach, your hair can grow back. Lifestyle changes, stress management techniques, and, when needed, medication can all help. You can also protect your hair by learning healthy ways to cope with anxiety and eating a nutrient-rich diet.

For added support, nourish your scalp and strengthen your strands with Keyoma Pure Batana Oil with Rosemary—rich in nutrients that promote healthier, fuller-looking hair. If you’re concerned about shedding or struggling with anxiety, reach out to a healthcare professional—they can guide you toward the right support and treatment.