Telogen Effluvium
Defined*
Telogen: The resting phase of the hair cycle that usually lasts approximately three months.
Telogen Effluvium: The second most common form of hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia is the most common. A condition that causes an increased number of hairs to enter the telogen or resting phase. The additional shedding usually occurs in response to various stresses such as emotional trauma, post-pregnancy and illness, major surgery, and certain medications. Telogen effluvium can be delayed (occurring a few months after the stressful incident) or chronic (unresolved).
Telogen Loss: Loss of hair during resting phase of hair or "natural" loss.1
Some hair loss conditions go by the name "effluvium," which means an outflow. Effluviums characteristically affect different phases of the hair growth cycle.2
According to the American Hair Loss Association, Telogen effluvium (TE) “is a poorly defined medical condition and unfortunately very little research has been done to understand TE. TE happens when there is a change in the number of hair follicles growing hair. If the number of hair follicles producing hair drops significantly for any reason during the resting, or telogen phase, there will be a significant increase in dormant, telogen stage hair follicles. The result is shedding, or TE hair loss.
Telogen Effluvium appears as a diffuse thinning of hair on the scalp, which may not be even all over. It can be a bit more severe in some areas of the scalp than others. Most often, the hair on top of the scalp thins more than it does at the sides and back of the scalp. There is usually no hair line recession, except in a few rare chronic cases.”
Hair Growth Explained
“Hair follicles on the scalp do not continuously produce hair. They cycle through a growth stage that can last two or more years, then regress to a resting stage for up to two months before starting to grow a new hair fiber again. At any time on a healthy human scalp, about 80% to 90% of the hair follicles are growing hair. These active follicles are in what is called the anagen phase. That leaves up to 10% to 20% percent of scalp hair follicles in a resting state called telogen, when they don't produce any hair fiber.”2
TE is Temporary: Maintain Your Healthy Hair Care
Naturally
Whatever form of hair loss TE takes, it is fully reversible. The hair follicles are not permanently or irreversibly affected; there are just more hair follicles in a resting state than there should normally be.2
Do you usually have healthy hair? Have you experienced recent hair loss in spite of efforts to take care of your normally healthy hair? If you've experienced stressful conditions described above, it might be Telogen Effluvium affecting your healthy hair. Please visit your medical doctor or dermatologist, to be sure. In the meantime, continue to care for and maintain your otherwise healthy hair with proven natural hair care products.
*Source: 1"Telogen Effluvium and Other Effluviums", WebMD
Medical Reference from the American Hair Loss Association.
2 “Effluviums”, American Hair Loss Association.
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Author: L.J. O'Neal, writer and researcher. (L.J. is also a Lustrous Henna® user.)
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