The Postpartum Telogen Effluvium Fallacy

The article from 2015 disputes the widespread belief that postpartum telogen effluvium (PPTE), a type of hair loss occurring after childbirth, is common and well-defined. It reviews literature, including a study by Lynfield in 1960 with 26 women and another by Ekmekci et al. in 2013 with 116 women, and finds no significant evidence to support increased hair shedding in postpartum women compared to pregnant women. The Lynfield study was limited by its small sample size and inconsistent follow-up, while the Ekmekci study had a larger sample but also had methodological issues. The authors argue that the prevalence of PPTE may be overestimated and that there is insufficient evidence for its existence, calling for more comprehensive research to determine the true incidence of PPTE.