Telogen Effluvium

The second most common form of hair loss, Telogen Effluvium (TE) affects people after they experience severe stress or changes to their body. While it can happen to anyone, it’s most common in women between the ages of 30 and 60.

What Are the Symptoms?

Symptoms include thinning hair around the top of the head, with excessive shedding all over the scalp after stressful occurrences such as pregnancy, rapid weight loss, protein deficiency, emotional stress, physical illness, surgery, trauma, and certain medications. Check out this recent Medi Tresse webinar on stress and hair loss to learn more about how to treat Telogen Effluvium and how to prevent it.

Regrowth Is Possible

The good news is, this condition can be treated and is usually reversible, with complete regrowth occurring in one year. However, in order to treat Telogen Effluvium-related hair loss, it is important to determine the cause so that it can be treated as well. It usually presents as a diffuse hair loss, meaning coming from all parts of the scalp.

While it is normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day, during a Telogen Effluvium episode, you will notice increased shedding. The telogen phase of the hair cycle is the resting phase, which is when shedding normally occurs; however, during Telogen Effluvium, either the telogen phase is extended or an abnormal number of hairs enters this phase.

older woman smiling with her hair in a bun

How the Hair Cycle Works

In general, hair has three stages of growth and loss:

Anagen (growth), the most active stage of your hair growth cycle.
Catagen (transition), a transitional stage of the hair growth cycle.
Telogen (resting), the resting stage of your hair growth cycle.

The hair follicles are not in the same stage at the same time, and a Telogen Effluvium hair loss occurs when a greater proportion of hairs are in the telogen phase than normal. After experiencing a stressor or change to your body, up to 70 percent of your hair in the anagen stage may prematurely enter the telogen phase, which is what can cause the rapid and excessive shedding associated with Telogen Effluvium. This hair loss usually occurs three to six months after the stressor occurred.

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Why Consulting a Specialist Matters

Seeking help from a hair loss specialist will help you understand and successfully treat this condition. Your hair loss specialist will perform an exam and take a history in order to determine the cause of your hair loss and the best treatment.

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A Look at the Process

Treating Telogen Effluvium is a two-step process. The first step is determining what is causing the “shock” to your hair. It is possible there was a singular insult such as surgery; however, with more chronic issues like stress or medications, you will need to stop the injury to truly treat your Telogen Effluvium.

The second step is to treat the hair loss to try and strengthen and rejuvenate your hair. It is essential that women start treatment as soon as they notice excessive hair shedding or thinning. By the time the scalp is visible through the hair, almost 50 percent of the density in that area has been lost.

What to Expect at Your Consultation

During your consultation, your hair loss specialist will conduct a few simple tests, usually a hair pull test to check how much hair you are actually shedding. A blood test may also be done to determine the exact cause of the hair loss. You will also be asked about your diet, medical history, and any recent stressors or illnesses that occurred three to six months before hair loss is noticed. Sometimes, women with Telogen Effluvium have fully recovered from the stressor or illness in question and don’t make the connection between the two.

Symptoms of Telogen Effluvium

Increased shedding

From increased shedding to thinning hair, there are a few symptoms of Telogen Effluvium to be aware of.

Increased hair loss: You may notice more hairs than usual in your hairbrush, on your pillow or in your shower drain. Typically, people naturally lose about 50 – 100 hairs each day. This is completely normal, as we need to shed old hair to make way for new healthy growth. However, excess shedding can lead to thinning and ultimately hair loss.
Thinning hair on the scalp, usually at the top of the head.
Dry hairs that tend to fall out easily.

In cases of Telogen Effluvium, the scalp itself looks healthy, with no presence of rash, itching, burning, flaking, or pain.

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Before & After Telogen Effulvium

*Individual results may vary.

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Clinically Proven Treatments for Telogen Effluvium

The following are hair rejuvenation treatments that are clinically proven to work.

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If you suspect you have Telogen Effluvium, we can help. Book a consultation with our hair loss specialists at one of our many convenient locations today!

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Telogen Effluvium Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions we get from patients here at Medi Tresse about Telogen Effluvium.

How common is Telogen Effluvium?

Telogen Effluvium (TE) is the second most common type of hair loss, especially in women and individuals experiencing MTF hair loss or FTM hair loss (you can read more about it here: https://www.meditresse.com/blog/mtf-hairloss-ftm-hair-loss/.
TE is second only to androgenic alopecia, or female pattern hair loss. It can effect 30% - 50% of women in their lives, especially during a life event such as loss of a loved one, giving birth, rapid hormonal changes, etc.
TE is usually reversable with proper treatment from a hair loss specialist.

How is Telogen Effluvium diagnosed?

As said above, you will have a consultation with one of our Medi Tresse hair loss specialists for an exam and some simple tests. Those tests may include a hair pull test to check how much hair you are actually shedding, and/or a blood test to determine the cause of hair loss. Your specialist will examine the diameter and length of the lost hairs to help them differentiate between Telogen Effluvium and other types of hair loss.

Where does the hair thinning with Telogen Effluvium mostly occur?

Telogen Effluvium usually presents as diffuse thinning of hair on the scalp, which may not necessarily be even. In fact, it may be more severe in some areas of the scalp than others. Thinning most often occurs at the top of the scalp more so than the sides and back of the scalp.

Who is most affected by Telogen Effluvium?

This condition can happen to anyone, but it is most common in women between the ages of 30 and 60.

What can trigger Telogen Effluvium?

Telogen Effluvium is caused by stressors on the body. There are many potential triggers including, but not limited to, a sudden change in hormone levels after giving birth, illness, vaccinations, crash dieting, physical trauma (i.e., car accident, fall), emotional stress, and even surgery. Usually, new hair growth will occur after the initial insult passes and your body starts to recover.

How can I reduce my risk of Telogen Effluvium?

There are a few things you can do to reduce your chances of Telogen Effluvium, such as eating extra protein, taking vitamins, finding effective ways to cope with stress, getting enough sleep, and avoiding extreme diets.