6 Tips for Coping with Hair Loss and Your Chronic Condition – Healthline
Hair loss was a blow to my identity, but I’m slowly learning to come to terms with it.
Hair loss is a common symptom for many chronic conditions. It can also be one of the toughest to come to terms with.
Our hair is a big part of our identities, so when we star…….
Hair loss was a blow to my identity, but I’m slowly learning to come to terms with it.
Hair loss is a common symptom for many chronic conditions. It can also be one of the toughest to come to terms with.
Our hair is a big part of our identities, so when we start to lose it, it can feel as if we’re losing ourselves. It can also be an outward sign that we’re sick during what is usually a period of invisible illness.
More than anything, it might come as a massive shock to some of us when we suddenly start losing our hair.
Hair loss is a big part of my chronic condition, lupus. I’m currently going through the biggest flare I’ve experienced in a decade, and I’m also experiencing a significant amount of hair loss.
I won’t lie, it’s something I struggle with. I have very distinctive auburn locks that are an integral part of my identity, so to find them coming out in clumps in the shower is upsetting.
However, I’m slowly learning to come to terms with it. Here are some tips to help you feel better about hair loss related to your chronic condition.
It’s OK to be upset, but the worst thing you can do in this situation is bottle up your feelings and fret over it more. This could actually make your hair loss worse, as stress can be another trigger.
Take some time to acknowledge how you feel. But, instead of wallowing and allowing yourself to feel worse, make a plan.
This could include setting up some time to talk with your doctor about what you’re experiencing, looking into dietary changes you can make, or scheduling an appointment with a stylist who can give you some hair tips.
Opening up can help relieve the burden. Whether you talk with your partner, friends, family, or a therapist, it will help to get it out there.
I always feel better after I’ve spoken with my friends who also live with chronic conditions — they understand it the most.
“Talk about it with friends and family, but I also would suggest joining your local alopecia discussion group. They are great friendly people, who can advise you in every aspect,” says Jonathan Palmer, PhD, the founder of HairKnowHow, a company that helps people better understand the health and type of their hair.
Instead of tight ponytails, wear your hair loosely, so you don’t add extra pressure to the roots.
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