Telogen effluvium is the most common cause of diffuse non-scarring alopecia. Periods of physical or psychological stress can cause your hair to enter into a prolonged resting period of 'telogen effluvium' where hair growth is drastically interrupted.
What is Telogen Effluvium? Telogen effluvium is a hair loss condition that presents itself as thinning hair on the scalp or excessive hair shedding. It affects women more and is triggered when the normal hair cycle is disturbed. These interruptions can be traced to physical or psychological events that cause you to be overly stressed. When this happens, your scalp follicles force your hair to move straight from the Anagen [growth] phase into the Telogen [rest] phase never . Then hair loss follows, about 3-4 months later. What Are the Causes of Telogen Effluvium Some of the most stressful events in life disturb your hair cycle and trigger this hair condition:
Childbirth
Fevers
Severe infections
Acute surgery or illnesses
Medications
Hormones
Chemotherapy
Protein or iron deficiency in your diet
Excess intake of supplements, like Vitamin A
Extreme weight loss
Critical mental stress or physical trauma
Pregnancy
This hair condition is temporary but could take up to 8 months for hair loss to reduce.And since it takes approximately a month for hair to grow up to ½ inch, restoring your scalp to look normal might take longer. If you're affected, you're most likely to notice much hair loss while shampooing. But that doesn't mean shampoos worsen the condition.
In severe cases of Telogen Effluvium [chronic telogen effluvium], it’s easy to confuse it with female pattern hair loss. So, you'll need an accurate diagnosis by a specialist. The telogen effluvium condition can make you lose up to 300 hairs within 24 hours. So, you need to pay attention to the amount of hair you shed while styling or brushing your hair. You should also check the shower drain for any excess hair build-up. How You Can Treat Telogen Effluvium Treatments for telogen effluvium will depend on its triggers. Once the trigger is identified and dealt with, your hair cycle will return to normal and your hair grows back. Treatment options include:
Correcting nutritional deficiencies in your diet
A hormone replacement therapy
Counseling support to help you manage stress or anxiety.
At Mane Affair Studio, the primary goal is to educate you in hair health. Need to pinpoint what's messing with your hair growth? We’re just a consultation away!