How Renting Your Home Could Make You Lose Your Hair

They say moving house is one of the most stressful times in a person's life but a new survey finds that those who rent rather than own their home may be hit the hardest. Renters are 75% more likely to experience serious anxiety and depression than homeowners, and this could in turn lead to stress-related hair loss.

‘Precarious existence’ causing depression

According to a poll commissioned by campaign group Generation Rent, 37% of people renting their home have experienced serious anxiety or depression in the past twelve months. Just 21% of those who own their homes reported similar experiences.

Alex Hilton, Director at Generation Rent, explained a possible reason for this, “Renters live in a precarious existence where they have no idea if they’ll be living in their home in a year’s time, or if they’ll be able to afford to”. Alex added, “That lack of stability and comfort erodes their wellbeing so it is no surprise that levels of anxiety and depression are higher than for home owners.”

Depression and hair loss

Depression has been linked with hair loss in two ways:

• a small number of people taking particular anti-depressants could develop a type of Alopecia that causes hair to shed at the start of the telogen (resting) phase (in contrast to Alopecia Areata, which usually causes hair to be shed around 3 months after the start of the resting phase). Such hair loss is likely to be temporary, and hair growth should resume once the medication course in completed although it may be possible to speed this process up with the use of minoxidil.

• the disruption to a person’s lifestyle and hormones can cause the sufferer to develop a stress-related hair loss condition, such as Telogen Effluvium.

 

Depression can also have a negative effect on a sufferer's diet and social habits such as smoking and excessive drinking, which can all cause thinning hair and either trigger temporary hair loss conditions. They can also exacerbate genetic hair loss in those who are already predisposed to male pattern baldness or female hair loss.

Anxiety disorders can also cause Trichotillomania, a psychological condition where the individual is compelled to pull or twist at their own hair until it comes out. This can lead to bald patches, cause irreversible scarring and permanent hair loss.

Managing stress and hair loss

There are many ways to help manage stress caused by lifestyle issues such as renting, and you can thus avoid hair loss from stress-related conditions or depression. However, in dealing with stress caused by renting, a full solution may require an overhaul of the legal system relating to renting. Alex Hilton confirmed, “Better rights for renters would not only create a fairer housing market, but there’d be public health benefits too.”

If you are experiencing depression, stress or are concerned about trichotillomania, speak to your GP who will be able to help you with coping strategies and, if need be, medication. Anyone experiencing excessive hair fall should make an appointment with a hair loss expert, who will assess you and advise on any suitable hair loss treatments needed to restore your hair to its full health.