Cicatricial Alopecia
Telogen Effluvium is a form of hair loss, where a large number of hair follicles enter the telogen or resting phase of the hair growth cycle prematurely. This condition can cause diffuse thinning of the hair across the scalp.
How Telogen Effluvium Occurs
A normal hair growth cycle consists of three phases: Anagen, Catagen, and Telogen phase.
- The Anagen phase is the growth phase that lasts up to 2-7 years. This is where your hair is growing in a normal pattern.
- The Catagen Phase is known as the transition phase, which is just 2-3 weeks where the hair growth slows and follicles begin to become smaller.
- The Telogen Phase or the resting phase, lasts around 3 months, after which hair falls out naturally, and new hair starts to grow.
Telogen Effluvium contains a stressor that causes more hair follicles than normal to shift abruptly from the Anagen to the Telogen Phase. After a couple months, shedding of large quantities can be seen, leading to visible hair loss. Common symptoms include diffuse hair thinning, hair shaft appearing thinner and shorter, and increased shedding.
There are two types of Telogen Effluvium: Acute and Chronic. Acute typically lasts under 6 months and appears suddenly from a trigger event. Hair will regrow within 6-12 months. However, Chronic can last more than 6 months and continue for years. This type of hair loss is more common amongst middle-aged women and can be linked to an underlying health condition.
Typically, a Dermatologist or doctor will check if you have Telogen Effluvium based on your medical history, examining the scalp, hair pull test, and blood tests. Your provider will check to see if you have had any recent stressors and major health conditions. The scalp will be examined to check for any patterns for thinning hair. With this condition, several hairs will fall out when gently pulling small sections of the hair.
What Causes Telogen Effluvium?
- Stress: Significant life stressors such as childbirth, surgery, or trauma can cause Telogen Effluvium.
- Changes in Hormones: Shifts in hormonal levels can lead to Telogen Effluvium. This can happen from pregnancy or menopause.
- Medications: Medications like antidepressants, beta-blockers, and anticoagulants can create shedding.
- Infections or illnesses: Autoimmune diseases, thyroid issues, and even severe infections can cause Telogen Effluvium.
- Nutritional Deficiencies: Not consuming vital nutrients like protein, iron, or zinc can cause people to suffer with Telogen Effluvium.
- Sudden weight loss or Diet changes: Diet crashes or extreme weight loss can shock the body and mess with hair growth.
How to Treat Telogen Effluvium:
The first step to treating Telogen Effluvium is to find the underlying cause of the condition. For example, if the patient is not taking adequate nutrition, improving diet or recommending supplements may be best to solve the problem. Other forms of treatments include:
- Minoxidil: topical Minoxidil can be used to increase blood flow to the hair follicles, which can help hair grow.
- Hair Care: Avoiding harmful products, excessive heating styles, tight hairstyles, and harsh chemicals can decrease stress on the hair.
- Medications: Hormone therapy or medications adjustments may be needed for patients who have certain health conditions.
- Hair Transplant: Hair follicles from the donor area can be transplanted to the area that is facing hair loss.
It’s important to detect the condition early, so that you can start a treatment plan and prevent any shedding that is occuring. A proper dermatologist can help you spot patterns of Telogen Effluvium and offer treatments that can help you fight the issue.