Vogue: How Stress Affects Your Scalp—And What to Do About It
If you’re contending with any scalp issue—be it itchy, oily, or losing hair—there’s a decent chance it could be stress-related. (Just one more reason to commit to mindfulness during a particularly anxious time.) As trichologist and Paul Labrecque salon stylist Bridgette Hill explains it, “Stress increases the cortisol levels in our bodies and cortisol levels have a direct correlation to the hair follicle,” meaning issues at scalp-level might be hinting at overall anxiety. Hill has seen clients who complain of overly oily hair, when “there are things going on with them internally, causing stressors to trigger scalp issues that leads to different fungus and bacteria or a flaky, itchy scalp.” Luckily, there are a few ways to deal with a stressed-out scalp, both directly and holistically.
