Telogen effluvium can be chronic or acute. The main characteristic of these conditions is excessive shedding that occurs fairly evenly throughout the scalp. Because of the diffuse pattern, this condition is also referred to as “diffuse hair loss.”
Most women will experience at least one bout of acute telogen effluvium in her lifetime. Although it is natural to panic when large amounts of hair suddenly begin falling out, there is rarely need for concern as the shedding is short-lived and doesn’t cause noticeable thinning–unlike the chronic version which can lasts years, causing severe thinning and much distress.
Both conditions are the body’s response to an undesirable condition. When the body feels a change, disturbance, imbalance or shock to the system, the hair growth cycle can become disrupted. Hairs that should continue to grow go into a premature resting period instead. There is no way to detect that this is happening. Approximately three months later these resting hairs begin to fall out. The excessive shedding will alert us that telogen effluvium has occurred. When attempting to identify the trigger it is important to think back to the previous months for clues. Continue reading “Acute Telogen Effluvium Vs Chronic Telogen Effluvium”