telogen-effluvium
By - Kaloni

What is telogen effluvium? Causes and treatment

When something is not right, your body shows it: you have brittle nails, frequent headaches, constant weakness and fatigue, and you begin to lose a significant amount of hair. 

Let’s talk about hair loss. Previously, we talked about the many health conditions that may lead to hair loss problems. One of the most common diagnoses (besides androgenetic alopecia) is telogen effluvium.

What is telogen effluvium? 

Telogen effluvium is an alteration of your hair’s life cycle. Basically, it means that the hair shaft goes from the growth phase (anagen) to the shedding phase (telogen) faster than usual. Usually, around 80% of our hair is in the growth phase, while only 10 to 20% is in the telogen phase. However, when telogen effluvium occurs, these percentages shift.

stages-hair-growth-2

We will talk in-depth about anagen effluvium in another article. For now, suffice to say that, in the case of anagen effluvium, the hair shaft falls out when it is in the growth stage. Usually, this is caused by metabolic alterations due to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other factors.

In most cases, patients discover an unusual amount of hair loss while in the shower, styling their hair, or simply brushing their hair with their hand. In these cases, patients notice less hair density, with visible bald patches on their scalp.

Broadly speaking, there are two types of telogen effluvium: 

  • Acute: significant yet unexpected hair loss caused by a brief yet intense stress period. It usually lasts for six months or less.
  • Chronic: this form of telogen effluvium lasts longer, with abundant hair loss that lasts for more than six months.

Causes: 

There are various factors that could unleash a case of telogen effluvium. Sometimes, two or more of these factors may take place at the same time. Here are some of the most common causes of this condition: 

  • Nutrient deficiency: a lack of vitamins, minerals, and proteins. It can occur as a result of strict diet plans, a gastrectomy, or even sudden weight loss. 
  • Hormonal changes: alterations in your endocrine system, physiological changes, and thyroid disorders. Also, changes in your menstrual cycle due to polycystic ovaries or birth control use.
  • Psychological stress: fear, anguish, and other strong emotions release hormones that directly affect your hair’s life cycle.
  • Physical stress: a surgical procedure or physical trauma, like the kind following a hair transplant.
  • Serious illness: like anemia, but also, in recent months, there have been numerous cases of telogen effluvium caused by Covid-19.

It is worth noting that telogen effluvium usually begins around 3 to 6 months after the causing factor. 

For this reason, if you had Covid-19 three months ago; you got a hair transplant; you experienced a stressful situation, or you went through a dramatic metabolic change, you are only starting to notice your hair loss now.

The good news is that this condition is curable, so, once the causes are detected and treated, the hair will grow back again.

Diagnosis

Telogen effluvium is diagnosed clinically. The hair expert will examine your medical history and perform a physical exploration of your hair, taking a close look at your scalp and performing a “pull test” to determine your hair’s health. The following Kaloni Institute video shows Dr. Annya Luzardo, a dermatologist and hair restoration expert, explaining how the test is performed. 

Treatment

As we mentioned earlier, in order to find the most effective course of treatment for telogen effluvium, it is important to know what is causing it. 

Sometimes, telogen effluvium goes away on its own (it self-regulates) over time. However, in other cases, a little help is needed to overcome the acute phase and keep it from turning into a chronic case of telogen effluvium. A medical evaluation is needed to identify the root of the problem and determine whether additional tests are necessary. 

Some of the most frequently-used treatments are:

  • Nutritional supplements, such as biotin, arginine, or multivitamins
  • Lotions (such as the Kaloni lotion), serums, or other dermocosmetic products that strengthen the hair shaft, maintain optimal conditions on the scalp, and stimulate blood flow
  • Intensive or biostimulation treatment (mesotherapy with vitamins and amino acids)
  • Professional help to treat stress and emotional health issues.

It is important that you schedule your evaluation with our trichology and hair transplant experts. They will give you your diagnosis, so that you can know whether your hair loss is caused by telogen effluvium and find the treatment that suits your needs. 

Schedule your evaluation today. 

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