It is one of the most common reasons for thinning hair.

This condition is often a reaction to physical stress or trauma, medications, or illness.

It can leave you with noticeably less hair, and it can be distressing.

A person with club hair

Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet New Zealand and ©Waikato District Health Boardwww.dermnetnz.org2023.

The good news is that telogen effluvium is usually temporary.

This article covers what you gotta know about telogen effluvium, including symptoms, causes, and treatments.

Reproduced with permission from DermNet New Zealand and Waikato District Health Boardwww.dermnetnz.org2023.

Sometimes it’s worse near the front of the scalp.

What Are the Symptoms of Telogen Effluvium?

Acute telogen effluvium lasts less than six months and goes away in most people.

The chronic form lasts longer and can affect a larger area of the scalp.

It tends to begin suddenly in females between the ages of 30 and 60 who have thick hair.

What Causes Telogen Effluvium?

Telogen effluvium has many causes, often connected to a physical change or trauma.

Common triggers for telogen effluvium include the following.

Stress and Trauma

Physical stressis a common cause of telogen hair loss.

It’s often due to an event such as major surgery, chronic illness, or a high fever.

It may also be linked to emotional or psychological stress.

Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause telogen effluvium.

Thyroid disease, which affects the hormones that the gland produces,has also been linked to hair thinning.

It tends to start a few weeks to a few months after the event or illness that causes it.

Often, no treatment is necessary, as the hair will grow back.

If it lingers, treatment depends on the cause of the condition.

you could take a few steps to venture to minimize the shedding or recover more quickly.

Talk to your healthcare provider before making any significant changes to your routine or starting a home treatment.

Diet and Nutrition

Crash dieting is a common cause of telogen effluvium.

Hair Care

take a stab at treat your hair very gently while you’re experiencing hair shedding.

Vigorous brushing and styling could remove hairs that may typically remain in the follicles if handled delicately.

Use hair care products that are gentle on the scalp and hair.

When normal hair growth returns, you could stop using minoxidil.

Stress Management

The types of stress that cause telogen effluvium may be physical or psychological.

Talk to your healthcare provider before starting any exercise routine.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections

Platelet-rich plasma is a liquid component of blood.

PRP is injected into the skin to stimulate hair follicles.

Hair Supplements

Oral supplements that support hair growth are available OTC.

These include Nutrafol and Untangled.

They contain a variety of vitamins, minerals, and other substances.

Some hair supplements containsaw palmetto, which should not be consumed by people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

It can alter hormone levels in the fetus or baby.It may also interfere with oral contraceptives.

Anagen effluvium is often a side effect of chemotherapy or can be due to immune system reactions.

It can also develop from hairstyles that pull on the hair or from harsh hair care products.

Is Telogen Effluvium Hair Loss Permanent?

Telogen effluvium is not a permanent condition.

Usually, the hair grows back within several months of resolving the trigger.

Summary

Telogen effluvium is a temporary condition of excessive hair shedding.

Fortunately, it usually reverses itself over time.

It can be upsetting to see your hair become thinner, but it will very likely go away.

In certain cases that last longer than six months, steroids may help.

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