Question: Doctor, I am having severe hair loss about 3 months after my pregnancy. I read about something called telogen effluvium. Could you please tell me more about it?Do I need a transplant for this?

Thank you for your query and we will certainly shed light on your query:
Yes, you are having telogen effluvium. Our hair grows in cycles consisting of anagen or the growing phase, telogen or the resting phase and catagen or the shedding phase. Telogen effluvium is a disorder of the scalp, characterised by increased shedding of hair or thinning, right from the telogen phase. Considered to be caused by physical or emotional distress, there is an alteration in the hair cycle, which is what leads to the hair loss.
In more technical terms, telogen effluvium refers to a very obvious shedding of club hair or telogen hair. This happens when follicles in the properly growing anagen phase move in increased numbers onto the telogen phase.
While telogen effluvium is seen more commonly in women, there are chances of it affecting men as well. It has been observed that telogen effluvium sets in about 30 to 90 days after a serious illness or events that could have caused immense stress. About a 100 hair a day is considered normal hair fall, but for people affected with telogen effluvium, the hair fall would be much greater. In addition, the period of hair fall would also be much longer.
The major causes for telogen effluvium include:

  • Child birth or discontinuation of birth control pills
  • Prolonged emotional, physical illness or psychiatric illness
  • Prolonged high fever
  • Severe blood loss, iron and vitamin deficiency
  • Usage of certain drugs or intensive dieting
  • General anaesthesia or surgical procedures
  • Skin disease or conditions related to thyroid
  • Early stage of androgenetic alopecia

In most cases, telogen effluvium is a condition that limits itself and recovers after a period of 3-6 months. There are a lot of options including medicines and laser therapy to stop hair fall and promote hair growth. Should someone wish to get a hair transplant, there would be an issue – the thinning that happens as a part of telogen effluvium is diffused (there are no obvious bald patches) and the donor as well as transplant areas are not clearly demarcated.

Fortunately, in most cases of telogen effluvium, there is a strong possibility of natural regrowth. In a few cases if the hair fall does not stop after a period of 6 months, you should consult a doctor for further management.


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Hair loss is never a welcomed thing for any one, especially for women. It either makes or can break their appearance. It can be temporary or long lasting, depending on the cause of the condition. But before you go for a treatment for hair thinning you should identify the cause first. There can be several reasons behind that like hormone imbalance. Menstrual irregularities, naturally higher testosterone levels, pre and post menopause,

birth control pills, pregnancy, stress, illness, fever etc can trigger one or other kind of hair loss in women. Let’s explore the main root cause for loosing shiny and soft locks which is considered as women’s glory.

CAUSES OF WOMEN HAIR LOSS

Telogen Effluvium

Telogen Effluvium or the diffuse hair shedding is the most common cause in women. In this thinning of hair starts occurring around the scalp and elsewhere on the body. Many adults have had an episode of telogen effluvium at some point in their lives, reflecting episodes of illness or stress. Telogen Effluvium is of three types sudden, delayed and chronic. Due to intense stress on the body’s physical or hormonal systems or as a reaction to medication can cause this problem. Like women who have experienced childbirth or major surgery can develop telogen effluvium. In chronic situations the hair loss occurs between 6 weeks and 3 months after the event, in which women might discover that a lot of hair is being shed. The cause might be able to stop, if stressful situations be avoided. In some cases, this disorder can continue, and women can experience hair loss for an extended period time.

Androgenetic Alopecia or Genes or Hereditary Hair Loss

Hereditary another causes of hair loss in women and can occur at any time after puberty. These genes are expressed by the hormones androgens so the problem in women caused by this is called Androgenetic Alopecia. There’s a large genetic predisposition, which may be inherited from the father or mother. Women diagnosed with this condition have thinning across the scalp, except for across the front hairline. A change in hormones could be credited to ovarian cysts, birth control pills, pregnancy and menopause. Aging is the most well-known cause of this problem among women. Unlike men, women decreases hair production by the time they reach 35 to 40. It is part of normal life cycle where both man and woman shed hair as they grow old.

Traction Alopecia

It is the third most common cause that affects the women, typically caused by sustained tension on the hair follicles. It is an immune disease in which the degree of hair loss severity varies from smaller to higher. In this, the hair follicles are attacked by white blood cells. This usually results from tight hairstyles, such as pigtails, tight braids and even rollers may also give the same effect.Treatments like straightening or perms may often lead to scalp inflammation and in the long run. With prolonged wearing of such hairstyles it takes the form of chronic hair loss problem. The follicles then become very small and production slows down dramatically, so there may be no visible growth for months and years.

Hormonal Imbalance

When your hormones go awry, your hair may fall out. Hormonal problems are one of the major causes in women. Any number of contributing factors can cause a woman to experience a hormonal imbalance, including dieting, stress, a sedentary life, birth control pills and low progesterone levels. One major gland affecting the hair loss in women is the thyroid gland. Whether it is over reactive or under reactive it will cause this problem in women. Also when estrogen gets out of balance then this problem in women may occur. You problem will be solved by balancing the Hormones. Women going through pregnancy or menopause experience a change in their hormones. This change causes the hair to continuously shed for a few months before it corrects itself. During pregnancy due to high level of many hormones there is less hair loss. But about three months after the delivery many women face the hair loss problem. When the hormones come to normal level the problem of hair loss is rectified.

DHT

DHT or dihydrotestosterone which is made from androgens (male hormones that all men and women produce) can be the cause of hair loss in women. If a woman has high levels of testosterone (the male hormone), this may result in the loss or thinning of hair. She may develop increased body and facial hair and experience acne, enlargement of the clitoris and secretions from the breast. The testosterone in the bodies of these women converts into DHT at a higher rate, creating these problems. People with a lot of this enzyme make more DHT, which in excess can cause the hair follicles to make thinner and thinner hair, until eventually they start falling completely. In case you come across from such problems like decreasing hair or hair thinning seek professional help immediately. Hair loss may not be a sign of malnutrition or aging but may also be an early sign of a serious health disorder.


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