How Does Depression Affect My Hair?

Conversations about mental health are becoming more and more prevalent. Campaigns like Movember hope to raise men’s mental health awareness and destigmatize those conversations. If you’re struggling with your mental health, you are not alone; a community is there to help. If you know those struggling, consider participating in a campaign like Movember to help raise awareness and money for charities that work to stop men’s suicide. You might notice it affects your hair if you are dealing with mental health struggles. Let’s look at some of the ways that depression can affect your hair.

Depression and hair loss can be intertwined. While there aren’t necessarily direct links between depression and hair loss, depression can cause significant shedding or thinning of hair.

Moreover, mood changes can cause hair loss, leading to a vicious cycle. Losing hair worsens your mood, continuing the cycle.

Another effect that depression can have is changing the quality of your hair. Symptoms of depression may cause your hair to dry or become brittle. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s causing you to go bald. However, significant breakage can make your hair harder to style in a way that downplays any balding you have.

Does Stress or Anxiety Cause Hair Loss?

Many mental health conditions go hand in hand. Often, those suffering from depression will struggle simultaneously with an anxiety disorder or have significant stress. These conditions usually are amplified by depression and have been clinically proven to cause hair loss.

These conditions can have a drastic effect on your hairline, which can, in turn, cause more anxiety about your looks. Avoiding social interaction can exacerbate depression symptoms.

Can Antidepressants Target My Hairline?

If you have a diagnosed major depressive disorder, a healthcare provider may have prescribed you an antidepressant-like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or SSRI.

These medications, like Prozac or Zoloft, often have hair loss as a side effect.

If you are experiencing this side effect, obviously talk to your doctor before you stop taking your medication. There are options to protect your hairline if you can’t switch medications.

Our Solution

If you are struggling with depression. Fortunately, there is help available. Talking to a licensed psychiatrist can help people of any gender who deal with depression, stress, or anxiety. There’s no shame in men going to counseling; targeting the cause of hair loss is essential. However, if your hair loss contributes to these conditions, Hairline Ink suggests a scalp micro-pigmentation solution. Using the latest tools and technologies, our technicians apply high-quality pigmentation to give your hairline a permanent, 3-D texture.

We offer Scalp Micropigmentation in over 50 US cities. Call or text us today at 833-HAIR-INK (833-424-7465) to schedule an appointment, learn about our pricing, or get a free quote!