Telogen effluvium is a form of temporary hair loss that usually happens after stress, a shock, or a traumatic event. It usually occurs on the top of the scalp.
Telogen effluvium is different from the hair loss disorder called alopecia areata. Large amounts of a person’s hair might fall out, but it is often temporary, and the hair usually grows back.
What is telogen effluvium?
Increased shedding or thinning of a person’s hair is characteristic of telogen effluvium.
A person is described as having chronic telogen effluvium if they frequently experience periods of hair shedding for more than 6 monthsTrusted Source. Telogen effluvium is generally reversible.
A person with this condition does not lose all their hair, although it may become noticeably thin.
Telogen effluvium is a form of hair loss characterized by hair thinning or an increase in hair shedding. It occurs more oftenTrusted Source in women and is usually triggered by a disturbance to the hair cycle.
The hair cycle typically has three phases:
Anagen or growth phase.
Catagen or transitional phase.
Telogen or resting phase.
Telogen effluvium is associated with the telogen phase. Normally, 5 to 10 percentTrusted Source of a person’s hair is in the telogen phase at any one time.
With telogen effluvium, the anagen phase slows down, meaning that fewer hairs enter the next two stages. With this condition, around 30 percent of hair follicles move into the telogen phase, which means that hair shedding occurs.
Symptoms
The main symptom of telogen effluvium is an increase in the amount of hair a person sheds.
Someone may notice that more hair than usual is falling out when they wash or brush their hair. They may also find more hair in the drain or on their pillow.
Causes
Severe stress may cause telogen effluvium.
Disturbances to the hair cycle can be caused by a number of triggers, including:
Severe stress. Prolonged periods of stress can result in telogen effluvium. Hair loss typically occurs about 3 monthsTrusted Source after the stressful event.
Poor diet. Hair requires key nutrients including protein, iron, B-vitamins, and zinc to grow. A shortage of these nutrients may affect the quality and quantity of a person’s hair.
Sudden weight loss. Weight loss or chronic calorie restriction, such as in anorexia nervosa, can cause the hair to shed.
Pregnancy and childbirth. During pregnancy, more hair is in the growth phase for longer. Hormonal changes that occur 3 to 6 monthsTrusted Source after birth can cause hair to shed. This is called post-partum telogen effluvium.
Menopause. Hormonal changes that occur during the menopause may also cause telogen effluvium.
Certain drugs. Certain medications and recreational drugs can cause hair loss.
Underlying health conditions. These can include autoimmune disease, conditions that affect the thyroid gland, and alopecia areata.
Surgery. Depending on the type of procedure, length of stay in hospital, medications, and overall nutritional status.
Metal toxicity. Contact with toxic chemicals in metal can lead to hair loss.
Treatment
Treatment for telogen effluvium depends on what is triggering the hair loss. Once the trigger has been established and addressed, the hair cycle should normalize and hair will begin to grow back.
Treatment includes medical treatment and lifestyle changes:
Medical treatment:
Non-medical treatment:
addressing nutritional deficiencies through diet
non-surgical hair replacement
hormone replacement therapy for people experiencing menopause
counseling support to manage stress or anxiety
A person should try to avoid chemical or heat treatments that could damage the hair. They should also avoid heat styling and heat treatment, such as curling or perming the hair.
Dietary considerations include the following:
Protein provides the building blocks for hair to grow. Make sure the diet includes plenty of protein-rich foods such as meat, eggs, fish, beans, grains, and nuts. The amino acid lysine may be particularly important for hair growth.
Iron deficiency may be linkedTrusted Source to telogen effluvium. Making changes to the diet to include iron-rich foods may help with hair loss. These include red meat, liver, dark green leafy vegetables, beans, and lentils.
Supplementation can be considered for a short time while nutritional status is improved.