Telogen Effluvium

I. Definition:

Telogen effluvium is an abnormal loss of hair due to alteration of the normal hair cycle. Hair growth occurs in a cycle which is divided into three phases: a growth phase, a regression phase and a resting phase. Different hairs are in different stages of the cycle at any one time. Normally, most of the hairs are in the growth stage and only one hundred hairs per day fall from the scalp. When telogen effluvium occurs, a greater proportion of the hairs enter the resting phase of the cycle and hair shedding is greater than normal.

II. Causes:

• During pregnancy, more hair follicles are maintained in the growth phase. After pregnancy, a greater proportion of these hairs go into the resting phase, causing a temporary self-correcting increased shedding of the hair.
• The same phenomenon can be seen after stopping birth control pills.
• The flu or stress can also cause telogen effluvium.

III. Treatment:

• There is no treatment for telogen effluvium. The problem will correct itself. All the lost hair will eventually be replaced.

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