One of the numerous hair loss conditions people tend to suffer from today is telogen effluvium. Telogen effluvium is a hair loss condition that is characterized by a general thinning of the hair over a period of months. It is usually found in people who have recently experienced trauma with common causes including childbirth, major surgery and severe illness.
Telogen is the name for the relaxing stage of the hair growth cycle. Telogen effluvium is a form of non-scarring alopecia distinguished by diffuse hair shedding, often with an acute onset. A telogen effluvium is when some stress causes hair roots to be pushed precociously into the resting state. Telogen effluvium can be severe or chronic. Hair growth happens in a cycle which is divided into three phases: a growth phase, a regression phase and a resting phase. Various hairs are in different stages of the cycle at any one time. Telogen effluvium may affect hair on all parts of the body, but, normally, only loss of scalp hair is symptomatic. Generally, most of the hairs are in the growth stage. In this condition, one can lose over 300 hairs per day.
A considerable number of different causes for telogen effluvium exist. Among the common causes are:
- Surgery
- Severe infections
- Severe chronic illness
- Major physical trauma
- Major psychological stress
- High fever or severe infection
- Extreme weight loss
- Extreme change in diet and “crash dieting”
- Abrupt hormonal changes, including those associated with childbirth and menopause
- Iron deficiency
- Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism
Diagnosis of telogen effluvium involves a three step process:
- Assess the type of hair loss suffered – generally telogen effluvium is typified by a rapid thinning throughout the scalp rather than the localized loss evident in most other conditions.
- Review life events over the previous six months – typically some sort of traumatic event will have occurred.
- Undergo a hormone test to rule out other abnormalities.
As far as treatment is concerned, telogen effluvium usually disappears as the effects of the trauma previously experienced begin to wear off. Consequently, there are no treatments specific to this condition although a product such as minoxidil may help to accelerate the regrowth process.
Tags: alopecia, bald, Hair Loss Causes, hair-loss, stress, Telogen Effluvium, trauma












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