Hair loss solutions now go to the root of the problem

From PRP injections to stem cell therapy, stress-induced hair problems have new, research-backed solutions

- Tanisha Saxena

Hair loss was once dismissed as a genetic inevitability or an unavoidable sign of aging. But in 2025, dermatologists are sounding the alarm: stress is reshaping the hair loss epidemic. A pioneering cross-sectional study, HAILO, published in the Asian Journal of Research in Dermatological Science in 2023, sheds light on the epidemiology and treatment patterns of hair loss in India. Analyzing electronic medical records from 24,595 patients between 2018 and 2021, the study identifies telogen effluvium (40.7%) as the predominant cause, followed by female pattern hair loss (22.09%), alopecia areata (12.81%), and male pattern hair loss (7.49%).

Stress can lead to hair thinning or loss, primarily through a condition called telogen effluvium, says Dr Sakshi Srivastava, senior consultant dermatologist, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Noida. "When stressed, the body shifts a larger-than-normal number of hair follicles into the resting phase, causing hair to fall out more than usual. This process typically occurs two to three months after a stressful event. While stress is a key trigger, the condition is usually temporary, and hair often regrows once the stress is managed," Srivastava explains.

With cases of stress-induced shedding soaring—from professionals facing burnout to postpartum mothers—science, medicine, and beauty are converging to rewrite the future of hair health. And a wave of innovation—from stem cell therapies to advanced scalp serums—is challenging the inevitability of hair loss. But can the latest breakthroughs finally tip the balance?