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Sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be connected to hair loss for a number of reasons. In fact, living with a sleep disorder may mean you’re at a higher risk for conditions that can cause hair loss.
If you’re living with both sleep apnea and hair loss, here’s what you need to know. We’ll cover different ways that sleep problems and hair loss might be connected. For more details about your individual sleep quality and hair health, talk to your doctor.
The connection between sleep disorders (including sleep apnea) and hair loss may go both directions. This means that living with a sleep disorder may put you at a higher risk of hair loss, and having hair loss may also put you at a higher risk of having sleep problems.
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How sleep disorders and hair loss are connected depends on the type of hair loss you’re experiencing. In general, sleep problems like low sleep quality, sleep deprivation, and disrupted sleep may lead to hair loss because they:
In addition, the shortage of oxygen experienced with obstructive sleep apnea may be connected to androgenetic alopecia, also referred to as male-pattern baldness.
At least one kind of hair loss, an autoimmune condition called alopecia areata, may put people at a higher risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea. Researchers don’t yet know why this happens.
It’s important to remember that hair loss alongside a sleep disorder may not be caused by the sleep disorder itself. Many circumstances can cause or contribute to hair loss, including stress, wearing your hair in certain ways regularly, and taking certain medications.
While sleep disorders and hair loss can have a direct connection, they may also be connected through another condition. Some medical conditions can put you at a higher risk of both sleep apnea and losing hair.
One common thread among these conditions is that many of them can lead to problems with your hormone levels.
People living with obesity are more likely to deal with both obstructive sleep apnea and hair loss.
Researchers believe that carrying more fat in your neck can cause blockages to your upper airway, leading to sleep apnea. On the other hand, obesity seems to be connected to hair loss through hormonal changes that can cause baldness.
Obesity may also be connected to hair loss in that it affects cells in the hair follicles, making it harder for your hair to grow.
Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS, used to be referred to as polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS. It affects hormonal levels in people with ovaries, leading to hair changes, difficult periods or period changes, fertility problems, and acne. Some people with PMOS don’t experience symptoms and don’t realize they have the condition until they gain weight or have trouble starting a family.
Living with PMOS puts you at a higher risk for a number of conditions, including sleep apnea. Hair loss can be a symptom of PMOS, and doctors may check for hair changes if they suspect PMOS.
Having a thyroid that’s either overactive or underactive for a long time can also lead to hair loss. Autoimmune problems that lead to thyroid issues may also be connected to PMOS. Low levels of thyroid hormones are also directly connected to sleep apnea.
Thyroid problems may not come with a lot of symptoms. If you’re losing hair and living with sleep apnea, you may want to talk to your doctor about whether it’s worth testing your levels of thyroid hormone.
Systemic lupus erythematosus, commonly referred to as lupus, may be another condition that connects hair loss and sleep apnea.
When it comes to hair loss, lupus can cause skin problems that damage your scalp and lead to hair loss. Certain medications taken to help with lupus may also result in losing some hair.
Results of one study seemed to connect lupus to sleep apnea. While this link needs to be confirmed by additional research, it may show that people with lupus are more likely to also live with sleep apnea.
Genes you inherit from your parents may play a role in both sleep apnea and hair loss. Your genes help determine the size and shape of your upper airway, the size of your mouth, and the way your skull sits on your body. These aspects of your body could make it more likely that you’ll develop sleep apnea.
Some genetic conditions, such as Down syndrome or a cleft lip or palate, could also make it more likely that a person will have sleep apnea. Some types of hair loss are also connected to genes you can inherit.
While researchers haven’t identified an inherited gene that raises your risk of developing both sleep apnea and hair loss, certain genetic changes seem likely to raise your risk of at least one of these conditions.
If you have questions about how your sleep disorder may be affecting your hair health, talk to a member of your healthcare team about it. They should be able to help you figure out what’s causing you to lose hair so you can get the treatment you need to stop or slow your hair loss.
Your doctor may recommend a dermatologist who can suggest better ways to manage your current health conditions in order to improve your hair. They might also be able to recommend lifestyle changes that will improve both your sleep and your hair health.
On MySleepApneaTeam, people share their experiences with sleep apnea, get advice, and find support from others who understand.
Are you living with both obstructive sleep apnea and hair loss? Let others know in the comments below.
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