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Stress and tress

LOSING HAIR? Relaxation can help reduce it

Stress and tension can cause hair loss and baldness, according to a study by researchers at the University of Luebeck.

A team of physicians led by Professor Ralf Paus found that hormonal reactions triggered in stress situations could contribute to baldness.

A higher concentration of hormones such as cortisol and testosterone, triggered during stress in humans, affected the hair roots.

“This leads to an acceleration of hair loss,” Paus said in an interview with the German pharmacist magazine Senioren Ratgeber.

A second test conducted among rats at the Berlin Charite hospital also found that stress affected the hair roots.

“There is no final evidence yet,” Paus said, “But it is quite possible that more relaxation can do a lot of good to your hair.”

The Luebeck team confirmed the results of a test conducted among handball athletes during the 2007 world championships, revealing that mental tension and physical exertion led to an increased release of stress hormones, increasing hair loss among professional athletes. — dpa

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