Telogen effluvium

Telogen effluvium is diffuse hair shedding caused by an unusually large share of follicles entering the resting phase of the hair cycle. It is usually temporary, though persistent cases can last longer.

Hair follicle: A skin organ that produces and grows a hair shaft through repeated growth and rest cycles. Each affected follicle shifts prematurely into its resting stage before shedding its hair.
Acute telogen effluvium: A short-lived episode of diffuse shedding that usually resolves within six months. It is the common, time-limited form following a temporary trigger.
Androgenetic alopecia: A patterned form of hair loss caused by progressive follicle miniaturization influenced by genetic and hormonal factors. Unlike diffuse shedding, it typically follows characteristic patterns and progresses over time.
Hair shaft: The visible strand of hair produced by a follicle, made primarily of keratinized cells. The shed material is the shaft, while the follicle usually remains capable of regrowth.
Hair growth cycle: The repeating sequence of growth, regression, rest, and shedding undergone by hair follicles. Telogen effluvium changes the distribution of follicles across this cycle.
Chronic telogen effluvium: Diffuse hair shedding that persists or recurs for longer than six months. It describes prolonged shedding that does not follow the usual acute course.
Alopecia areata: An autoimmune disorder that causes nonscarring hair loss, often in distinct patches. Patchy loss and autoimmune follicle targeting distinguish it from diffuse cycling-related shedding.
Dermal papilla: A cluster of specialized cells at the base of a hair follicle that helps regulate hair growth. Its signaling helps coordinate the follicle cycling that shedding episodes disrupt.
Anagen phase: The active growth phase of a hair follicle, during which the hair shaft lengthens. Follicles leave this growth phase earlier than usual before later shedding.
Postpartum hair loss: Temporary diffuse shedding that commonly follows childbirth as pregnancy-related changes in hair cycling reverse. Childbirth is a frequent trigger for a recognizable acute episode.

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