TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM: HAIR LOSS DUE TO STRESS

WHAT IS TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM?

Telogen effluvium is the most common cause of diffuse hair loss and sudden hair loss. It almost always follows a stressful and intense period in your life. It usually occurs 3 to 4 months after that event. A disruption in the hair growth cycle is the culprit. A normal hair growth cycle consists of 3 phases and looks like this:

The anagen phase

This is the growth phase of the hair. About 85% to 90% of the hairs are in this phase. In this phase the hairs are thick and strong.

The catagen phase

Hairs in the catagen phase no longer grow. The hair follicles are also starting to shrivel a bit. About 1% to 6% of hairs are in this phase. In this phase the hairs are already somewhat thinner.

The telogen phase

In this final phase the hair falls out. About 2% to 18% of hairs are in this phase. In this phase, the hair follicles also produce new hair for the next growth phase.

With telogen effluvium, too many hairs enter the telogen phase at the same time. That is why more hair falls out than normal.

There is an acute form of telogen effluvium of which stress is almost always the cause. Usually this was preceded by childbirth, surgery, serious illness, divorce, strict diet, job loss or something similar. After about 6 months, the telogen effluvium will disappear on its own.

In the chronic form, the triggering factor occurs for a long time or repeatedly. As a result, hair loss can also become chronic. The cause of chronic telogen effluvium is not always clear, but it can be due to vitamin deficiencies, hormonal changes, systemic diseases, skin diseases and the use of medications.

WHAT DOES TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM LOOK LIKE?

Telogen effluvium can be recognized by an even, but excessive loss of hair. It is noticeable because more hair suddenly falls out during combing or washing. There are more hairs in the shower drain and on the floor. When about 20% of your hair has fallen out, you will also notice that your hair is thinner.

With telogen effluvium, the hair loss is always diffuse, which means that the hair becomes thinner all over the head. That makes it more difficult to recognize than, for example, androgenetic alopecia, where the hair thins in specific places on the head.

Telogen effluvium always starts very suddenly. That's what makes it so annoying when it bothers you. Suddenly there are many more hairs on your pillow, in the shower drain and spread across the floor in the house. That's quite scary. The thought is often that if this continues, you will be bald in no time. However, you don't have to worry about that. Telogen effluvium affects less than 50% of the hair. So it is not the case that all your hair falls out.

WHAT CAUSES TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM?

The possible causes of telogen effluvium have already been discussed several times above. For a clear overview, we list the 4 possible causes below:

Stress

Telogen effluvium often follows a period of stress. This could be emotional stress, such as a divorce or job loss. But perhaps even more often it concerns physical stress, such as an operation, serious illness or heavy blood loss.

Pregnancy and childbirth

It is recognizable for many women. About 3-4 months after giving birth, the hair suddenly falls out a lot. We call that telogen effluvium.

Medication

Certain medications can have sudden hair loss as an unpleasant side effect. If you need to take these medications for a longer period of time, it is wise to consult with your doctor about possible alternatives.

Eating pattern

Telogen effluvium can also occur after a strict diet or a period of less healthy eating. If important vitamins are missing from your diet, hair loss can result.

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM IN MEN?

Telogen effluvium is much less common in men than in women. It is therefore important to first rule out that the hair loss has no other cause. If that is not the case, it is good to know that acute telogen effluvium will disappear on its own after about 6 months. Chronic telogen effluvium unfortunately lasts longer or keeps coming back. To treat this, it is important to investigate what the cause is. Are certain medications the culprit or is it a skin disease that is playing tricks on you? By tackling the cause, the telogen effluvium can be counteracted.

For men, there are ways to reduce the effects of telogen effluvium and get hair back into top condition faster. A healthy lifestyle without stress and good care of the hair and scalp are the most important assets. For example, the Advanced Hair Restoration Technology line from Mediceuticals helps with chronic and periodic hair loss. The shampoo, conditioner and spray keep the hair and scalp in optimal condition. Fewer hairs fall out by strengthening thin and weak hair and it stimulates new hair growth. This makes it an important weapon in the fight against thinning hair due to telogen effluvium.

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM IN WOMEN?

In women, telogen effluvium is a common form of hair loss. It is common after pregnancy. Sudden hair loss 3-4 months after childbirth almost always involves telogen effluvium. Another cause is possible, but not very likely. Chronic telogen effluvium is most common in women between the ages of 30 and 50. Fortunately, just like in men, acute telogen effluvium goes away on its own. In chronic telogen effluvium, it is necessary to determine the cause of the hair loss.

A period of 6 months of hair loss may seem manageable, but if you have to deal with it, it is still a very long time. In addition, it can take up to a year for the hair to regain its original thickness. To speed up that process, it is important to take good care of the hair and yourself. Eat and live healthily, make sure you get enough vitamins and choose the right care products for your hair especially if the telogen effluvium is chronic.

At Mediceuticals we have a shampoo, conditioner and spray that prevent hair loss and stimulate new hair growth. This concerns the Advanced Hair Restoration Technology for Women line. The products strengthen weak and thinning hair, keep the scalp in optimal condition and stimulate new hair growth. This line has been specially developed for women and can be used to limit the consequences of telogen effluvium as much as possible.

A LIFE WITH TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM

Hair loss due to telogen effluvium is annoying, but fortunately in many cases only temporary. By avoiding stress, living a healthy lifestyle and taking good care of your hair, you can keep the consequences as limited as possible. Use the right care products and be kind to your hair, so you will get through the period as well and quickly as possible. The sooner you manage to limit hair loss, the sooner you can enjoy your familiar full head again.