Telogen Effluvium

Stress can be debilitating. It can have adverse effects on your physical and mental well-being. Stress can occur for several reasons, including a cascade of side effects. Hair loss due to severe stress is a common side effect known as "Telogen Effluvium." When you are affected by telogen Effluvium, you are bound to lose hair on top of your scalp. It is considered to be the second most common form of hair loss. Telogen effluvium is a temporary and reversible hair loss that usually happens after stress, a shock, or a traumatic event. The condition is usually common among women between 30 and 60 years old. 

This article will explore the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, conservative changes, and telogen Effluvium treatment. 

What is Telogen Effluvium?

Telogen effluvium is temporary hair loss caused by stress or any change to your body. Your hair will typically have three stages of growth and shedding, namely:

• Anagen: This is an active hair growth phase. 
• Catagen: This is a transitional stage of your hair growth cycle.
• Telogen: This is the resting stage of the hair growth cycle. The hair follicles are mostly inactive during this phase. 

A disturbance in the normal hair cycle causes telogen effluvium. It commonly affects women and involves hair thinning or increased hair shedding. This type of hair loss is associated with the telogen phase of the hair cycle. In telogen effluvium, the anagen phase slows down, resulting in more hair shedding than hair growth. Normally, you may lose 100 strands per day, but with telogen effluvium, you are expected to lose around 300 to 400 strands each day. 

Which Areas Are Affected by Telogen Effluvium?

Telogen effluvium usually affects the hair all over the scalp. It commonly appears on top of the head rather than the back or sides of the head. Although it is temporary and doesn't cause permanent baldness, severe forms of telogen effluvium may affect other areas of the body, including your eyebrows and body hair. 

What Causes Telogen Effluvium?

Disturbances to the hair cycle can be due to a series of triggers, such as:

Severe Stress

• Prolonged or chronic stress can result in excess hair loss, usually within 30 months of a stressful episode. 

Poor Diet

• A less nutritious diet that does not provide the necessary nutrition for proper hair growth can result in telogen effluvium. 
• Hair requires a combination of essential nutrients like vitamins, iron, and zinc for being strong and healthy. 

Sudden Weight Loss

• Weight loss due to prolonged calorie restriction can cause abnormal shedding of hair. 

Hormonal changes

• Hormonal fluctuations, as seen during pregnancy, childbirth, or menopause, can result in the hair being in the growth phase, leading to increased hair shedding. 

Medications 

• Certain medications like recreational drugs, retinoids, beta-blockers, NSAIDs, and antidepressants can cause temporary hair loss as a side effect. 

Underlying Health Conditions

• Certain autoimmune conditions or thyroid problems may induce hair loss. 

Metal Toxicity

• Contact with toxic chemicals in metals can result in hair loss. 

What May Trigger Telogen Effluvium?

The following factors can trigger telogen effluvium:

• High fever 
• Severe infections 
• Hypothyroidism
• Hyperthyroidism 
• Major surgery 
• Discontinuing the use of birth control pills
• Fas diets with a lack of protein 

What Are the Symptoms of Telogen Effluvium?

Symptoms of telogen effluvium include: 

• Increased hair loss is easily noted in your hairbrush, pillows, and shower drains. 
• Thinning of the hair on top of your scalp.
• Dry hair
• Increased hair fall
• Fragile hair that breaks easily 
• Sometimes, your scalp may become dry, itchy, and red with a burning sensation
• Psychological symptoms including anxiety, depression, and mood swings

How is Telogen Effluvium Diagnosed?

Telogen effluvium is easy to detect. Your doctor or dermatologist (a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to the skin, hair, and nails) can confirm telogen effluvium through a routine physical examination. 

Furthermore, your doctor can confirm the diagnosis through the following tests:

• A hair pull test to check how much hair you are shedding 
• A wash test involves counting the number of hair lost during washing 
• A blood test to help determine the cause of hair loss 
• A scalp biopsy to study a tiny skin tissue under a microscope to rule out other conditions 

How is Telogen Effluvium Treated?

Treatment for telogen effluvium depends on what is triggering the hair loss. Once the cause is identified, treating telogen effluvium becomes easy. The treatment options include:

Medications 

• Drugs like minoxidil can help promote hair growth by activating the hair follicles. 
• Multivitamins like iron and biotin supplements can stimulate the hair follicles to produce new hair. 

Proper Hair Care

• Being gentle while styling your hair can reduce the risk of hair fall. 
• Remember to avoid heating curlers and straighteners to prevent damage to the hair follicles.
• Avoid frequent coloring and highlighting your hair until the condition improves. 

A Healthy Diet

• Eat a well-balanced, highly nutritious diet with all the essential nutrients for proper hair growth. 
• You must include iron, vitamins, and zinc in your daily diet. 

Relaxation Techniques

• Avoid stress with the help of relaxation techniques.
• These may include:
• Yoga 
• Meditation 
• Exercise 
• Developing new hobbies 
• Counseling
• Getting enough sleep 

Hormone Replacement Therapy

• Replacing hormones in women can manage hormonal fluctuations, especially post-menopause. 

Takeaway 

Telogen effluvium is a temporary and reversible form of hair loss that can occur anywhere in your body but usually affects your scalp. It is characterized by abnormal hair thinning and shedding on top of your scalp. It usually occurs due to stress or a traumatic event that slows down the anagen phase and accelerates the telogen phase of your hair cycle. It can be physically, emotionally, and mentally draining. But remember, your hair will grow back, and you won't suffer from permanent baldness. 

Contact your doctor when you notice hair loss (more than 300 strands per day) for further evaluation and management. Your doctor may use different combinations of treatment options, such as lifestyle changes, medications, stress management, hormone replacement therapy, or multivitamins, to manage telogen effluvium.