If stress is chronic, hair loss can be persistent and you may continue to lose hair for many years.
Dr Lee said: “Stress appears to cause the anagen period to readjust to a shorter time span.
“The diagnosis of stress-induced hair loss can be confirmed by a trichologist.
“The differential diagnosis includes female pattern hair loss, male pattern hair loss, diffuse alopecia areata, anagen effluvium and hair shaft defects.”
How to manage stress-related hair loss
It’s very distressing when you feel you are losing your hair and it can cause intense suffering and can affect your social functioning and ability to work.
Dr Lee said: “Hair loss has severe psychological effects including loss of self-esteem, poor body image, loss of confidence, depression, and anxiety.
“Women with high-stress levels are 11 times more likely to be suffering from hair loss than women with normal stress levels.
“See your doctor if you are concerned about hair loss sooner rather than later.
“The doctor will ask questions and is likely to arrange blood tests to rule out common causes such as iron deficiency, or a low thyroid hormone level.
“There are a range of different types and causes of hair loss, and once a diagnosis is made, the best treatment can be offered. You may need to see a consultant dermatologist.
“You may prefer to arrange to see a hair specialist – a trichologist. This is not available on the NHS. You can find a qualified trichologist here.”
Looking for somewhere to start? Dr Lee has revealed five ways to deal with stress-related hair loss.