Telogen effluvium (sudden hair loss): causes, etc.

Definition of telogen effluvium

Telogen effluvium (TE) is a condition when the hair falls out suddenly. This loss problem is usually temporary, aka not permanent. This condition usually occurs when there is a change in the number of hair follicles that grow hair.

When the number decreases in the resting phase (telogen), the number of non-growing hair follicles will increase. As a result, hair falls out.

How common is telogen effluvium?

Telogen effluvium is a condition that can happen to anyone, regardless of age and gender. However, this sudden hair loss tends to occur in healthy women aged 30-60 years.

If you have any concerns, please consult a dermatologist for the best solution.

Signs and symptoms of telogen effluvium

Basically, the symptoms of telogen effluvium are similar to those of hair loss in general. For more details, here are the various symptoms that arise due to this sudden loss.

• Hair thinning in certain areas of the head or looks evenly distributed.
• Thinning is common at the crown.
• Hair loss accumulates on pillowcases, bathroom floors, or combs.
• Hair loss on other parts of the body, such as on the eyebrows or pubis (pubic area).

In most cases it shows that this problem is not characterized by any symptoms. However, telogen effluvium can sometimes be accompanied by pain and a change in sensation on the scalp (trichodynia).

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When to see a doctor for telogen effluvium?

If you have any of the signs or symptoms listed above or have any questions, please consult a dermatologist. Always consult a doctor to treat your health condition.

Causes of telogen effluvium

What are the causes of telogen effluvium?

Normally, about 85% of the hair follicles on the scalp will grow hair (anagen hair). Then, about 15% is the hair that goes into the telogen phase or resting.

Hair follicles also typically grow hair in the anagen phase for 4 years or more. Then, the hair will return to rest for 4 months. Eventually, anagen hair will start to grow under the resting telogen hairs and cause them to fall out.

That is why, 50-100 hair loss per day is part of the normal hair growth phase.

If the number exceeds this number, it is likely that anagen hairs undergo a faster phase to become telogen. The various factors that trigger telogen effluvium are:

• childbirth (postpartum hair loss),
• undergoing certain operations,
• accident,
• stress,
• diet or lack of nutrients such as vitamin B12 or iron,
• use of certain drugs,
• endocrine problems, such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism,
• scalp disease, and
• excessive sun exposure.

Diagnosis and treatment of this condition

How to diagnose this condition?

Most cases of telogen effluvium are diagnosed based on a medical history and an examination of the scalp and hair. If the hair loss occurs for several months, there are some parts of the scalp that start to look thinner.

If the bald patches are large enough, you may not have telogen effluvium, but rather a hair loss problem.

The doctor will usually pull a few strands of hair on the scalp. If there are four or more hairs that are falling out, it means you may have telogen effluvium.

In addition, TE sufferers usually have a characteristic form of hair that is still in a resting phase, which is a kind of white lump on the scalp.

The doctor will also ask you to collect all hair loss over a period of 24 hours to measure the severity. The amount of shed less than 100 hairs per day is still considered normal.

In rare cases, especially when your doctor can't confirm a diagnosis, you may undergo a scalp biopsy. Your doctor may also order blood tests to check for conditions such as thyroid disorders to treat hair loss.

How is telogen effluvium treated?

Until now, there is no specific treatment for telogen effluvium. That is why, doctors will overcome this problem by treating sudden hair loss.

For example, a poor diet that causes hair loss can be resolved through consultation with a nutritionist. If hair loss starts to occur after taking certain medications, talk to your doctor about these side effects.

In some cases doctors will prescribe lotions containing minoxidil to stimulate hair growth. This is usually done in patients who are dissatisfied with hair growth after experiencing hair loss.

Home remedies

In addition to medicines from doctors, telogen effluvium can actually be treated by changing your lifestyle to be healthier. Here are various natural ways to treat sudden hair loss.

Healthy and nutritious diet

Most cases of sudden hair loss are caused by an unhealthy diet. Nutritional deficiencies can adversely affect hair growth.

If you are confused about where to start, ask your doctor to check your nutritional status and choose foods for hair loss.

Care for hair with care

Apart from maintaining a healthy diet, you may also need to pay attention to how to care for your hair carefully. There are several habits that need to be done if your hair seems thinning, namely:

• avoid styling hair with straighteners or hair dryer ,
• postpone plans for hair coloring,
• avoid combing too often and vigorously,
• choose shampoo and conditioner made from soft, and
• avoid massaging the scalp too hard when shampooing.

Manage stress

Reducing stress can help speed up recovery. You can exercise or do meditation to vent negative emotions. Also make sure you get enough sleep every day.

Hair growth will usually return after the cause of telogen effluvium has been resolved. However, this problem can recur and develop into severe hair loss leading to baldness when not treated properly.

If you have further questions, consult a dermatologist to find the right solution.