Does Lack of Sleep Cause Hair Loss?

No,‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ sleeping less than the required hours cannot be the only factor to cause permanent hair loss (like genetic baldness) directly. Credibly, the link between sleep deprivation and hair loss is profound but it is an indirect pathway: lack of sleep leads to a significant increase in stress levels, and stress is one of the sources of temporary hair shedding. Thus, you may consider sleep deprivation as the act of pressing the stress trigger which results in hair loss. Common treatments such as PRP for hair fall are usually effective.

The Domino Effect: From Sleep Loss to Hair Shedding

The connection between bad sleep and hair loss is completely dependent on the stress hormone, cortisol.

• Elevated Cortisol Levels: When you regularly sleep less than necessary, the body treats this ill circumstance as a stress factor.
• Body's Response: In this case, the organism reacts by upscaling the production of cortisol, the most important stress hormone.
• Stress on Hair Follicles: The situation when cortisol is high and chronic for a long period of time leads to a disruption in the normal hair follicle function. Hair loss is the first thing that happens when the body redirects energy from (hair growth) to fight the stress.

2. Triggering Telogen Effluvium 

This interruption links with the hair cycle growth directly.

• Premature Shedding: Cortisol is capable of doing so forcibly and prematurely that a great number of hairs in the Anagen phase are transferred into the resting/shedding phase (Telogen Effluvium).
• The Delay: In most cases, the shedding is not immediate; it usually occurs 2-3 months after the period of severe stress or sleep deprivation. Because of that time lag between the occurrence of stress/sleep deprivation and the resulting hair loss, it's complicated to establish a connection between a lack of sleep/hair fall at different times.
• Sleep and Hair Repair: Good sleep is definitely a rest but it also serves as a time when the body does necessary repair and hormone balancing.

• Melatonin Production: Besides melatonin being the sleep regulator, it is also responsible for hair growth regulation. Inadequate sleep may affect melatonin production thus slow down hair growth.

• Protein Synthesis: Sleep is a phase in which the body, among other things, efficiently produces proteins including keratin which is one of the main components of hair and is responsible for its strength. Without sleep for a long time, this process may be impaired and therefore hair will become weak and easily frangible.

Improving Sleep, Reducing SheddingThe foremost measure that can effectively reverse hair loss caused by bad sleep is to treat the stress and sleep deficiency that come as a root cause of the ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌problem. 

Conclusion

 While lack of sleep does not directly cause hair loss, it is a potent stressor that triggers temporary shedding (Telogen Effluvium). Prioritizing 7-9 hours of quality sleep nightly is a fundamental step in regaining control over hair health and volume.