Can the way you sleep cause hair loss? The answer to this frequently asked question is no. Your sleeping position whether it be on your side or back doesn’t stop nutrients from getting to your scalp. Nor does it prevent blood from flowing to the hair follicles.
Hair thinning causes depend on many other factors – not getting enough sleep can often cause hair loss. As can male and female pattern baldness, hormone imbalances, and autoimmune disorders. Learn more about lack of sleep side effects here…
Sleep Influences on Hair Loss
Sleep deprivation can have an effect on body hormones. Growth hormone is actually produced during normal sleep cycles. When sleep is regularly disturbed these hormone levels decrease resulting in thinning hair. Getting quality sleep is essential to help control hair loss. And can help with the management of both physical and emotional stress.
Sleep Preparation Strategies
Sleep hygiene is defined as regular habits established that relate to sleep – and to your sleep environment. Look at a range of approaches that give optimum results:
- Comfort – your mattress and pillows need to supportive and restful
- Temperature – keep your room cool as bedroom temperature can affect the quality of rapid eye movement sleep cycle
- Quiet – minimise disruptions – use earplugs or invest in a white noise machine to eliminate sounds
- Dark – limit devices before bedtime and block out light from windows with blackout curtains
Sleep Habits
Following a consistent pre-sleep routine will help settle you for bed. This may include having a warm, milky drink, reading, or listening to calming music. Try to avoid alcohol and heavy meals close to bedtime. And go to bed and rise at the same time – even at the weekend and during holidays.
Stress and Hair Loss
When a situation triggers stress chemicals that build up in the body can result in debilitating conditions. These high levels can lead to hair loss. Hair loss conditions caused by stress include:
- Telogen Effluvium – when more hair follicles than usual are resting and hairs are shed without being replaced
- Alopecia Areata – a disfunction of the autoimmune system where healthy hair follicles are mistakenly attacked
- Trichotillomania – an unconscious obsession to pull out hair leading to bald patches
Other Hair Loss Conditions
Wide-ranging issues can cause hair loss and these include:
- Illness
- Pregnancy
- Medical treatments
- Rapid weight loss
- Iron deficiency
- Poor diet
- Genetic disorders
Hair Loss Treatments
Stylists from Cochrane & Co specialise in hair replacement systems – and will give you all the advice and help you need related to this treatment. They know how important your appearance is to your well-being. From the initial consultation to the ongoing haircuts and styling, your confidence will be immediately boosted. And your hair will look and feel perfectly natural.
With significant hair loss, you may need to talk to your doctor. Causes will then be correctly identified. And medications prescribed. Clinically proven drugs increase the blood supply to the scalp – resulting in additional nutrients received by the hair follicles.
Sleep therapists will also be able to help you deal with sleep deprivation that may be contributing to your hair loss.
