Telogen Effluvium

Telogen effluvium is a common cause of temporary hair loss caused by excessive shedding of telogen or resting hairs. All hair cycles through the stages of hair growth – from growing to involution to resting and eventually shedding. In a normal scalp, about 90-95% of hair follicles are in the growing phase, with only about 5-10% of the hair being shed. In telogen effluvium, a stressful event triggers more hair to stop growing and enter the shedding phase, resulting in a disproportionate number of hairs being lost simultaneously. This generalized shed usually occurs about 3 months following the precipitating event. Common examples of situations that cause increased stress on the body include: childbirth, significant illness, surgical operation, extreme weight loss or dieting, certain medications, and even psychological stress (death of a loved one, divorce, etc). Telogen effluvium is a self limited process. Typically, the hair grows back within 3-6 months after the precipitating stressor has been eliminated.