Telogen effluvium: what is it?

By the term telogen effluvium we mean that altered condition of the hair life cycle that genus massive and unusual hair loss.

This phenomenon predominantly affects women, but is also present in men. Usually, it has a limited duration in time and is reversible.

What telogen effluvium consists of

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Many patients complain ofsubstantial hair loss after a shower, or on the pillow after the night. In these cases, most of the time it is telogen effluvium.

It is a fairly common condition involving a evident hair loss, along with adecrease in overall hair volume.

The condition under considerationcan affect men and women of all ages.The likelihood of being subject to this phenomenon is greatly raised in women between the ages of 30 and 60.

The diagnosis

In order to diagnose the exact causes, it is necessary to perform a trichological examination by a tricologist, the dermatologist who specializes in the hair follicle.

Indeed, in the physical examination, the doctor analyzes the patient’s medical history, but may also request specific examinations such as thyroid examinations or values of substances such as iron and vitamins
In addition, the doctor may find it useful to perform certain tests, such as the “pull test” or digital hair analysis by tricogram and dermatoscopy. These examinations are especially useful in distinguishing the type of hair loss that is occurring, distinguishing it, for example, from androgenetic alopecia.

In most cases, in addition to hair loss, telogen effluvium brings symptoms such as a thinning of hair on the scalp and a reduction in overall density.

The causes of telogen effluvium

Various can be the causes that lead to telogen effluvium. Let us consider the most common ones:

• Physical-emotional stress: a stressful event, either physically or emotionally, can stimulate the transition of hair from the anagen life cycle to the telogen fall cycle. As a result, two to three months after the event itself, massive hair loss may occur. Examples of stressful situations can be an accident, job loss, missing a loved one, but also the contraction of the new Coronavirus.
• Diseases chronic: the onset of chronic or acute diseases, such as fever, can facilitate the process of telogen effluvium.
• Nutrition: a diet low in important hair substances such as iron, copper, selenium, protein, and vitamins A and B12 can facilitate the condition of unusual hair loss. Similarly, a drastic diet that makes people lose a lot of weight in a short time can also lead to hair loss under examination.
• Birth: this is one of the most common situations, and is contrasted with the substantial increase in hair number during pregnancy.

Possible solutions

There are several solutions to this condition, but they depend on the type of underlying cause.

For example, if the upstream problem is diet, an increase in foods containing the missing substances can be considered. In some cases, especially chronic ones, treatment with corticosteroids and minoxidil may be useful.

In any case, it is always helpfulto limit the number of stressful events, do not smoke, limit alcohol use, and sleep at least 8 hours a night.