Telogen Effluvium
Treatments for temporary hair loss.
Telogen effluvium is a condition that causes hair loss, usually after stress, shock, or trauma. Although it’s normally only temporary, it can affect your self-esteem and confidence.
Order telogen effluvium treatment online after talking to our experts about your health. We’ll deliver proven treatments straight to your door, and you’ll get aftercare from our experts.
To understand what telogen effluvium is, we first need a bit of context. And this is that your hair follows a cycle of growth and shedding, split into three phases:
Telogen effluvium occurs when there is a marked increase in the number of hairs shed each day. An increased proportion of hairs shift from the growing phase (anagen) to the shedding phase (telogen). Normally only 10% of the scalp hair is in the telogen phase, but in telogen effluvium this increases to 30% or more. This usually happens suddenly and can occur approximately 3 months after a trigger.
Telogen effluvium is where a large amount of your hairs switch from the anagen phase to the telogen phase, which leads to an increase in hair loss.
Telogen effluvium doesn’t usually need treatment, and the normal ratio of anagen to telogen hairs tends to be restored once the cause of the condition is addressed. The normal duration of telogen is approximately 100 days (3 to 6 months) after which period the hair starts growing again. However, depending on the length of the hair, it may take many months for the overall hair volume to gradually return to normal. In these cases treatment might then be recommended.
Although telogen effluvium – in itself – doesn’t pose a risk to your health, it can affect your body image and self-confidence. This can then have a knock-on effect on your mental health and cause stress.
Telogen effluvium can affect anyone, however women are more likely to be affected than men. This is because women are more likely to experience certain triggers or risk factors of TE, such as childbirth or menopause. Research also shows that women between the ages of 30-60 are more likely to experience chronic TE.
There is no hereditary (genetic) cause for TE. It can affect anyone equally, however the root cause isn’t always easy to determine.
It’s not fully known how many people will get TE during their lifetime, but it’s thought to be the most common cause of diffuse hair loss. Diffuse hair loss is the name given to hair loss that’s spread equally across the scalp.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Telogen effluvium can have a wide range of triggers or causes. Some of the most common are:
Essentially, anything that puts your body under certain or sudden stresses can trigger TE. No cause is found in around a third of people diagnosed with telogen effluvium.
Due to the nature of the condition, it can be quite common for the symptoms of TE to appear once the underlying cause has already been addressed. This means that it’s not unusual for people to be unaware of what has caused their hair loss. It can also take a while for new hairs to replace the lost ones, so symptoms of TE generally have a delayed onset of about 2-3 months, and can last for up to six months before improving.
The primary symptom of telogen effluvium is (unsurprisingly) hair loss. You might notice that more of your hair is falling out during your day-to-day life, or that you see more of your hair on your pillow in the morning or on your hairbrush after brushing your hair.
Most people become aware of losing hair in increased amounts. This is most noticeable after washing or brushing with more hair being found in the plug hole or on the hairbrush or comb. Some people will notice increased hair on the pillow in the morning or around the house. Usually there are no symptoms.
95% of cases of TE are acute (not chronic). So in the vast majority of incidences of TE, symptoms last for no longer than six months. In the other 5% of cases, though, the condition might last for up to several years, with hair loss symptoms fluctuating over this period. This normally happens when the primary cause or trigger of the condition is unknown, unaddressed or recurrent.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Many cases of telogen effluvium don’t require treatment, eating a healthy diet including food that contains iron, protein, fresh fruit and vegetables may be helpful. Consider taking supplements if your diet is restricted.
In cases where the condition is more persistent, you might be prescribed a topical treatment such as minoxidil (Regaine), which has been shown to prolong the anagen (growth) phase of the hair cycle.
There’s no ‘best’ treatment for telogen effluvium per se. The best way to treat it will be dependent on the suspected cause or trigger.
So, for instance, if the cause is thought to be stress then making steps to eliminate or reduce the stress will be the best course of action. Likewise, if dietary issues are thought to be the cause then making dietary improvements (such as making sure you’re getting the right amount of protein and nutrients) will be recommended.
Medication tends to only be recommended if the condition persists, in which case topical treatments such as minoxidil are first-line options.
Most cases of TE don’t need treatment. In fact, some experts suggest that the most important thing for managing the condition is psychological support and counselling. This can help the person with the condition to understand that their hair loss is a natural reaction to stress or trauma that should reverse itself within a few months. This can also help to reduce any stress they might be feeling about their hair loss, which can delay hair regrowth.
As well as this, getting a good amount of sleep, the right amount of vitamins and minerals in your diet, and a good amount of exercise can all help to improve the symptoms and outlook of the condition.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
CHRONIC TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM. Dermatologic Clinics 14(4), pp.723–731.
Common Causes of Hair Loss. JAMA, [online] 328(7), p.686.
Malkud, S. (2015). Telogen Effluvium: A Review. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH, [online] 9(9).
Telogen Effluvium: A Review of the Literature. Cureus, 12(5).
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