Hair loss is a source of anxiety for many of us, regardless of age or gender. Chronic telogen effluvium, as a result, raises a big concern among people concerned with hair loss. In this article, we will learn about the causes and treatment of this common condition.
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Everything You Need to Know About Chronic Telogen Effluvium
Hair is one of the defining characteristics that maintain one’s self-image. Many people’s identities are defined at least in part by their hair. People even fear a lower quality of life and fewer social interactions if they have hair loss.
Understanding the Normal Hair Cycle
The follicle beneath the skin is where hair grows. Blood vessels at the follicle’s base provide the hair with the nutrients it requires to grow. The normal hair cycle consists of four stages between the time it starts to grow and when it stops growing: anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen.
The third stage of the normal hair cycle, telogen, is the resting phase in which the old hair is resting while a new hair begins the growing phase (anagen). The resting hair stays in the follicle during telogen until it is pushed out by the formation of a new anagen hair. This phase lasts about three months for scalp hairs. Anything that causes the hair cycle to be disrupted can cause more hairs to enter the telogen stage, leading to more hair loss in the exogen stage. This excessive shedding is referred to as telogen effluvium.
Telogen Effluvium (TE) and Chronic Telogen Effluvium (CTE)
Telogen effluvium (TE) is a common temporary hair loss from the scalp due to excessive shedding after a shock, stress, or a traumatic event. Telogen effluvium can be acute or chronic. According to a study, telogen effluvium is the most common cause of diffuse hair loss, followed by chronic telogen effluvium.
Chronic telogen effluvium (CTE) lasts longer than six months. It is indicated by sudden, excessive, alarming, widespread hair shedding. Chronic telogen effluvium is different from acute telogen effluvium since it lasts longer and tends to vary over time. This condition is not uncommon and tends to affect women of 30 to 60 years of age.
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Symptoms of Chronic Telogen Effluvium
An increase in hair shedding is the most common sign of telogen effluvium. Telogen effluvium occurs around three months after a shocking, stressful, or traumatic event. Hair clumps on both the vertex and the margins of the scalp fall out rapidly. Inflammation and scarring are not present. While people with telogen effluvium usually lose less than 50% of the scalp hair, chronic telogen effluvium might cause more hair loss due to its extended effect.
In the early stages of chronic telogen effluvium, the shedding is usually severe. The hair may fall out in clumps. People with chronic telogen effluvium naturally worry about their hair loss spreading and becoming permanent. In the long run, however, chronic telogen effluvium does not lead to complete baldness and appears to be self-limiting.
Causes of Chronic Telogen Effluvium
Before we can identify the cause of chronic telogen effluvium, let’s learn what might trigger the initial telogen effluvium in the first place. According to a study, there are various causes of telogen effluvium. Some of the causes might include:
- Febrile states such as typhoid, malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV infection
- Stress such as emotional stress, serious injuries, difficult labor, bleeding, starvation, and crash diet
- Drugs such as oral retinoids, oral contraceptives, antithyroid drugs, anticonvulsants, hypolipidemic drugs
- Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
- Organ dysfunction such as renal failure or hepatic failure
- Short anagen syndrome
- Malnutrition
- Hair dye application
Treatment for Chronic Telogen Effluvium
There is no specific treatment for telogen effluvium. The most critical aspect of hair loss treatment is informing your doctor about the condition’s history as thoroughly as possible.
In addition, a well-balanced diet is necessary for dealing with hair loss. Protein-rich foods such as meat, eggs, fish, beans, grains, and nuts should be present in the diet since protein supplies the building blocks for hair growth. Consuming iron-rich foods such as red meat, liver, dark green leafy vegetables, and beans may also assist with hair loss.
Along with improving the nutritional condition, supplements may be helpful for a brief time. One of our products helps reduce hair loss and may be effective against telogen effluvium: our Duo Hair Serum which is formulated to produce rich, vibrant, healthy hair.
Duo Hair Serum contains zinc which can support healthy hair growth and maintenance. We have also formulated it with catalytic GHK-cu and Zn-thymulin to heighten the zinc’s effectiveness. GHK-Cu is a copper complex that occurs naturally in human plasma. It can strengthen and thicken existing hair. Zn-thymulin is a combination of zinc and Thymulin. Thymulin aids in extending the anagen phase of hair follicles, which is essential in treating hair loss.
So consistent use of Duo Hair Serum can improve the lifespan of hair follicles and help reduce hair loss stemming from zinc deficiency.
Despite not being a severe condition that affects overall health, chronic hair loss might affect other aspects of our social life. Knowing what causes hair loss is essential to eliminate this condition.
If you have questions about chronic telogen effluvium or any health problems discussed here, connect with us and learn more.
At Peak Human, our team of healthcare professionals is dedicated to helping you reach your ‘peak’ health with a custom whole-person approach. Using the most cutting-edge, science-backed biohacking and aesthetic tools, technologies, and treatments available today, we help you achieve the highest physical/cognitive performance state, leading to an improved overall quality of life.
For questions or to book an appointment, don’t hesitate to contact us. Get personalized support and insight from expert physicians.
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