Telogen Effluvium - Symptoms & Treatment

Telogen effluvium is the name for temporary hair loss due to shedding after some shock to the system. Hair growth occurs in a cycle which is divided into three phases a growth phase, a regression phase and a resting phase. Different hairs are in different stages of the cycle at any one time. Normally, most of the hairs are in the growth stage and only one hundred hairs per day fall from the scalp. When telogen effluvium occurs, a greater proportion of the hairs enter the resting phase of the cycle and hair shedding is greater than normal. Telogen effluviums can be acute or chronic. When the shedding lasts more than six months or persistently recurs, it is referred to as a chronic telogen effluvium. Chronic telogen effluviums have been reported mainly in women. No racial predilection exists. Although telogen effluvium can affect hair on all parts of the body, generally, only loss of scalp hair is symptomatic. The exact prevalence is not known and getting accurate statistics would be very difficult, but the condition is quite common. Telogen effluvium can occur at any age. It is likely that most adults have experienced an episode of telogen effluvium at some point in their lives and, unbeknownst to most people, everybody has experienced the phenomenon early in life. In fact, mothers have been more aware of telogen effluviums in newborns and babies than most doctors have ever been. It is typical for a band like area of occipital hair follicles to enter the first telogen close to the time of birth and for these hairs to shed 2 to 3 months later. In the human infant, waves of hair growth occur before establishment of the mosaic pattern, which is usually present by the end of the first postnatal year.

Telogen Effluvium is characterized by sudden, diffuse hair loss caused by an interruption in the normal hair growth cycle. This interruption is often the result of trauma , such as chemotherapy , childbirth , puberty , major surgery , severe stress , and severe chronic illness. It occurs when one or more factors interfere with the normal growth cycle and manifests when large numbers of hairs are prematurely pushed from the growth (anagen) phase into the resting (telogen) phase. The telogen hairs are loosely attached at the roots and fall out easily. Fortunately, this unnatural growth behavior is only temporary and completely reversible. Telogen effluvium, a prominent alopecia cause represents itself as diffuse thinning of hair on the scalp. The thinning may not be even all over. It can be a bit more severe in some areas of the scalp than others. There need not be any particular pattern to the hair thinning, but most frequently, the hair on top of the scalp thins more than it does at the sides and back of the scalp. There is usually no recession in the hair line, except in a few rare cases of chronic telogen effluvium. In chronic Telogen Effluvium, other hair bearing areas of the body, like eyebrows and pubic hair, get affected. Whatever form of hair loss occurs, telogen efflivium is fully reversible as the hair follicles are not permanently affected.

Causes of Telogen Effluvium

Telogen Effluvium occurs when sudden or severe stress causes an increase in the shedding of the hair. The hair will then stay in the resting phase (the phase in which telogen effluvium occurs) for some time approximately 90 days and after that a large amount of hair will be shed. Often the suffering person recovers from the event before the hairs start shedding. In most cases the hair fall is for a very less time and the hair soon recovers. However in some cases the hair loss continues until the underlying cause is fixed. Telogen Effluvium is found to affect more women than man.

Find common causes and risk factors of Telogen Effluvium :

• Iron deficiency.
• High fever or severe infection.
• Major physical trauma.
• Chronic medical illness.
• Childbirth causes abrupt hormonal changes.
• Overseas travel resulting in jet lag.
• Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
• Heavy metal poisoning.
• Menopause.

Signs and Symptoms of Telogen Effluvium

Sign and symptoms may include the following :

• Alopecia areata .
• Alopecia universalis.
• Trichotillomania .

Treatment for Telogen Effluvium

Treatment may include:

• There is no treatment for telogen effluvium. The problem will correct itself. All the lost hair will eventually be replaced.
• A nutritious diet , with plenty of protein, fruit and vegetables may improve the condition.
• Lotion such as minoxidil , Nizoral shampoo and Tricomin Therapy Spray can be used to stimulate the hair growth.
• Doctors generally recommend the pills to cure iron deficiency which is also a cause of telogen effluvium.