Reducing cortisol levels...

[hairschmair]

Has anyone ever heard of any studies of how cortisol levels affect hair growth/loss (and if they do at all?).

We know extreme stress can, in rare cases, cause hair loss, so perhaps cortisol can have an effect in less extreme cases as well?

Any info/insight appreciated.

 

[hairschmair]

Looks like this has come up before a couple of times. Not much information. Kind of general dismissal of the idea.

 

[powersam]

in short,

cortisol is stress hormone, encourages fat to collect around the abdomen, screws with insulin levels.

lack of sleep increases cortisol levels, as does sleeping at random times.
melatonin is inhibited by cortisol but taking supplements seem to help lower cortisol levels. high gi food and coffee will also tend to toward higher cortisol levels.

anything else would be conjecture on my part, but i do think insulin and cortisol play a large part in hairloss.

oh yeah melatonin is a good for sleep/appetite/mood/stress . but i think quite a few people on here take it so you probably knew that