Are you looking for information about telogen effluvium?
In this guide we will explain what this phenomenon of hair loss consists of, what the most obvious symptoms are, and how to combat it.
By telogen effluvium or effluvium we mean intense hair loss, which can indiscriminately affect men and women of all ages, although having a predilection for the female sex.
The causes and forms by which the disease can occur are diverse-let’s analyze them together.
Causes and remedies for hair loss
Let us now see what telogen effluvium consists of and what steps to take to effectively understand and control the problem.
Telogen effluvium: meaning and causes
The first thing to say when talking about telogen effluvium refers to the genesis and causes of the disease.
The basic assumption from which to start is the hair regrowth cycle. In fact, in humans, hair follows a well-defined regrowth process, marked by three phases:
- A growth phase termed anagen;
- A regression phase termed catagen;
- A period of elimination referred to as telogen.
That being said, by telogen effluvium we mean consistent hair loss, which can be traced to a variety of causes, attributable to physical or mental stress phenomena.
As with the types of alopecia, there are different forms of telogen effluvium:
- Acute telogen effluvium, where the fall is sudden and violent and has a limited duration, usually around three months. Subsequently, hair regrowth may be partial or total;
- Chronic telogen effluvium, where hair loss lingers over time and does not seem to heal, forming visible areas of thinning.
Let us now look in detail at how the different forms of telogen effluvium manifest themselves and how they can be controlled.
Acute and chronic telogen effluvium
Acute telogen effluvium consists of a temporary increase in hair loss from resting follicles in the skin due to acceleration of their growth cycle from the anagen phase to the telogen phase.
Effluvium is defined as acute because it occurs suddenly, following trauma that triggers a psychosomatic response in the body.
The possible causes of acute telogen effluvium are essentially of two types:
- Physical stress, which relates to issues or situations that impact the body, such as pregnancy, surgery, physical trauma, or a very strict diet;
- Psychic stress, which refers to particular situations related to the psychological sphere, such as emotional or family problems, bereavement, excessive stress, and tension in the workplace.
Most often this form of hair loss is reversible and stops as the trigger stops.
Chronic telogen effluvium, on the other hand, consists of hair loss that occurs periodically or remains constant over time.
Among the causes of the disorder we can mention:
- Thyroid dysfunction;
- Frequent blood donations;
- Abuse or long-term use of drugs such as interferon or retinoids;
- Taking oral contraceptives.
Again, resolving the trigger could help eliminate the phenomenon.
Anagen effluvium
In contrast to effluvium in the telogen phase, anagen hair loss occurs in the growth phase.
This disorder sees massive hair loss due to a highly traumatizing event that halts the hair’s life cycle. Possible triggers include:
- chemotherapy;
- aproteic diet;
- Poisonings;
- exposure to ionizing radiation;
- Particularly aggressive febrile illnesses.
Diagnosis and treatment
To get a complete diagnosis and overview of the telogen effluvium phenomenon, it is necessary to undergo a specialist examination by a professional dermatologist.
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