Table of contents:
- What is telogen effluvium?
- How do you know if you have telogen effluvium?
- Common causes of telogen effluvium?
- Treatments for telogen effluvium
- How long does telogen effluvium last?
What is telogen effluvium?
Telogen effluvium is a form of hair loss that is often characterised by sudden and severe hair loss, but it can also start more slowly and last longer. The word "effluvium" literally means "falling out", and that is exactly what happens. Many hairs enter the resting phase at the same time, causing a lot of hair to fall out. This can happen in response to various triggers, such as stress, illness, medication use or hormonal changes.
This form of sudden hair loss is more common in women than in men, but both sexes can experience it. There are two main types: the acute form and the chronic form.
- Acute telogen effluvium: This is the best-known form and is often caused by a sudden stressful event that occurred a few weeks to months before. However, it can recover spontaneously within a few months.
- Chronic telogen effluvium: This form can last longer, usually longer than 6 months. If the cause of hair loss is long-term or repeated, hair loss may develop gradually and persist for longer.
How do you know if you have telogen effluvium?
Cognising telogen effluvium can sometimes be tricky, as hair loss can start gradually and symptoms can be subtle. The first signs are usually noticeable hair loss during daily activities, such as combing or washing your hair. You may notice more hair falling out than usual, and you might notice that your hair is thinning.
As opposed to some other forms of hair loss, such as Androgenetic Alopecia, telogen effluvium usually does not develop into obvious bald patches on the scalp. Instead, the hair loss is usually evenly distributed throughout the scalp, making the hair appear thinner. This can make it difficult to recognise the condition from the outside, but the changes in hair loss will often be noticeable to the person experiencing it.
Many common causes of telogen effluvium
There are several factors that can lead to telogen effluvium. The most common causes are
- Stress:
A period of stress, such as after a traumatic event, deep grief, surgery or an accident, can affect the hair cycle and lead to temporary, stress-related hair loss.
- Hormonal changes:
Hormonal hair loss is one of the most common causes of hair loss, especially in women. Hormonal changes in the body, such as during menopause, pregnancy or after childbirth, can lead to telogen effluvium. Hormonal fluctuations can affect the hair cycle, such that more hair enters the telogen phase and falls out.
- Change of diet:
Hair loss due to weight loss, a crash diet or gastric bypass is also not uncommon, as a lack of certain nutrients can lead to telogen effluvium. An unbalanced diet or certain eating habits can disrupt the hair cycle and lead to hair loss.
- Medications or diseases:
Taking certain medications can have a big impact on the body. For example, if you have been taking antidepressants or chemotherapy drugs or suffer from thyroid problems or autoimmune diseases, this can be a trigger for telogen effluvium.
In most cases, diffuse hair loss does not occur until 2–4 months after the cause. If you see this list, you may already know what is the cause of telogen effluvium in your case. If not, a visit to your GP is recommended to find out the cause through a blood test or a trichogram.
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Treatments for telogen effluvium
If you suspect that you have telogen effluvium, it is important to get a diagnosis from a GP or dermatologist. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, several treatments can help reduce hair loss and stimulate hair growth:
- Lotion: If you want to target your hair loss, Neofollics lotion offers an effective solution. This lotion penetrates the scalp quickly without leaving a nasty residue. It's an ideal product for when you're looking for an effective topical treatment.
- Nutritional supplement: If you're looking for a way to tackle thinning hair from within, Neofollics tablets are a good choice. These supplements contain powerful ingredients that inhibit hair loss while stimulating hair growth. With a combination of natural ingredients, they offer complete support for healthy hair growth.
- Shampoo and conditioner: A healthy scalp is essential for good hair growth. Neofollics shampoo and conditioner are specially formulated to nourish the scalp and stimulate hair growth. Are you looking for a complete hair care routine? Then this shampoo and conditioner are ideal for promoting your hair growth.
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Laser therapy: As an alternative or complement to the previously mentioned products, laser therapy is an option to consider. The Theradome laser helmet has been approved by the US FDA for medical use for hair loss, showing that it meets strict safety and effectiveness standards.
Although buying a laser helmet may seem like a big investment in terms of cost, it will last for years. It is also comfortable and easy to use, and has no side effects like some other treatments.
Advice personalized to your hair needs
Like each person, each hair problem is unique. Take our Hairtest to find the best products for your hair within 2 minutes!
How long does telogen effluvium last?
When you experience acute hair loss, your hair growth will recover fairly quickly. Hair loss often stops within 3–6 months (up to a year) if the cause does not recur. Then the hair grows back completely.
When you experience chronic hair loss, your hair gradually recovers once the cause is found and treated, such as a lack of certain nutrients. If the cause of the hair loss can be eliminated, for example by stopping certain medications, your hair will also recover.
For people with long-term hair loss with no obvious cause, hair loss can go up and down over several years. Fortunately, hair usually recovers on its own, but sometimes this can take a long time. You can repair the damage to your hair caused by telogen effluvium faster by using our recommended products.
