Psychological stress can push hair follicles into the telogen (resting) phase 1 to 3 months after the triggering event, making it difficult to connect the shedding you see today with the stress you experienced weeks or months ago. Tracking both stress events and density readings on the same timeline solves this problem.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
Stress Hair Loss vs. Pattern Hair Loss: The Key Differences
The first step is determining which type of hair loss you are dealing with. These two conditions behave differently, respond to different treatments, and have different prognoses.
| Feature | Telogen Effluvium (Stress) | Androgenetic Alopecia (Pattern) |
|---|---|---|
| Distribution | Diffuse thinning across entire scalp | Temples, frontal hairline, vertex |
| Onset | 2 to 4 months after stressor | Gradual over years |
| Pattern | No Norwood stage progression | Follows Norwood scale (N2 to N7) |
| Duration | Temporary (6 to 18 months) | Permanent without treatment |
| Trigger | Identifiable stressful event | Genetic and hormonal |
| Recovery | Full density recovery possible | Requires finasteride, minoxidil, or transplant |
Tracking with myhairline.ai over 3 to 6 months reveals which pattern your loss follows. Diffuse thinning without Norwood progression points to telogen effluvium. Localized recession following the Norwood scale points to androgenetic alopecia.
How to Build a Stress and Density Log
Pair every density reading with a stress event log. The delayed relationship between stress and shedding (2 to 4 months) means that the density dip you measure today may correlate with a stressor you experienced last quarter.
| Date | Density Reading | Stress Event (2-4 Months Prior) | Stress Level (1-10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Baseline | None notable | 3 |
| February | Stable | Job change in November | 8 |
| March | Slight decline | Holiday stress in December | 6 |
| April | Notable decline | Job change (peak impact window) | 8 |
| May | Stabilizing | Stress resolved | 4 |
| June | Improving | Stress resolved | 3 |
When you plot density readings against stress events shifted by 2 to 4 months, the correlation becomes visible. This is the data that distinguishes stress-related shedding from pattern loss.
The Overlap Problem: When Both Types Coexist
Many people experience both telogen effluvium and androgenetic alopecia simultaneously. A stressful period accelerates shedding on top of an existing pattern loss condition. This creates confusion because the shedding from stress masks the underlying pattern.
Tracking over 12 or more months separates the two signals. After the stress resolves, telogen effluvium reverses within 6 to 9 months. Any density loss that remains after the recovery period is attributable to pattern baldness.
For example, if you drop from Norwood 2 density to Norwood 3 density during a stressful period, then recover to Norwood 2.5 density after stress resolves, the remaining 0.5 stage progression represents genuine androgenetic alopecia. That is the signal your tracking data reveals once the noise of stress-related shedding clears.
For more on navigating telogen effluvium specifically, see our telogen effluvium recovery guide.
What to Track and When
Monthly density readings: Take a reading with myhairline.ai at the same time each month under consistent conditions. Morning, dry hair, same lighting.
Stress event log: Record any significant stressor as it happens, not retroactively. Include the date, category (work, health, relationship, financial), and a severity rating from 1 to 10.
Shedding observations: Note days when you observe increased hair fall (on pillow, in shower, on brush). These acute shedding observations add granularity to your monthly density readings.
Treatment changes: If you start finasteride (80 to 90% halt further loss) or minoxidil (40 to 60% regrowth rate) during your tracking period, log the start date. Treatment responses need to be separated from stress recovery in your data.
When to Share Your Data with a Dermatologist
Your stress-density tracking log becomes a powerful diagnostic tool when you visit a specialist. Instead of describing your experience subjectively ("I think stress is causing my hair loss"), you present a timestamped dataset that shows:
- When specific stressors occurred
- The corresponding density changes 2 to 4 months later
- Whether density recovered after stress resolved
- Whether any residual loss follows a Norwood pattern
This data accelerates diagnosis and helps your dermatologist distinguish between telogen effluvium, androgenetic alopecia, or the combination of both. For tips on preparing your data for a clinical visit, see our guide on documenting hair loss for your dermatologist.
Recovery Timeline Expectations
If your tracking confirms stress-related hair loss, here is the typical recovery timeline:
- Months 1 to 3 after stress resolves: Shedding begins to decrease
- Months 3 to 6: New growth becomes visible as miniaturized hairs start to recover
- Months 6 to 9: Noticeable density improvement on tracking readings
- Months 12 to 18: Full or near-full density recovery to pre-stress baseline
Track your recovery monthly with myhairline.ai to confirm you are on this timeline. If density has not begun improving by month 6 after the stressor resolved, consult a dermatologist to rule out an underlying pattern loss condition.
Start tracking your stress and density patterns with a free reading at myhairline.ai/analyze.