Telogen Effluvium: A Review of the Science and Current Obstacles

January 2021 in “ Journal of Dermatological Science ”

Ginny Oong Chien Yin, Joyce Lee Siong-See, Etienne C.E. Wang

Telogen Effluvium non-scarring hair loss physiological stressors childbirth sudden weight loss hair cycle Minoxidil anti-androgen medication TE Rogaine

Studysummary This review describes the diagnosis and management challenges of telogen effluvium, a type of hair loss triggered by physiological stress, and summarizes current understanding of its mechanisms and treatments while recommending future research directions. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The document from March 2021 reviewed Telogen Effluvium (TE), a prevalent form of non-scarring hair loss often triggered by physiological stressors like childbirth or sudden weight loss. Despite a high remission rate, TE can significantly affect individuals' quality of life due to sudden, excessive hair loss. The mechanisms by which physiological stress impacts the human hair cycle were unknown at the time, and there were no targeted treatments for TE. The document stressed the need for more rigorous basic science and translational studies to create effective treatments for TE patients. It also indicated that treatments for other hair loss forms, such as Minoxidil and anti-androgen medication, might not be suitable for certain TE patient subsets.

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research Evaluation of the Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Hair Diseases Through a Web-Based Questionnaire

39 citations , June 2020 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

In this study, individuals reported a decrease in dermatologist visits for hair and scalp conditions like telogen effluvium and alopecia areata during COVID-19 quarantine, despite increased occurrences.

research Ischemia-Modified Albumin as a Possible Marker of Oxidative Stress in Patients with Telogen Effluvium

8 citations , May 2020 in “Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia”

This study found that serum ischemia-modified albumin levels were significantly higher in patients with telogen effluvium compared to healthy controls, suggesting a potential role of oxidative stress in the condition's pathogenesis.

research Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphism in Chronic Telogen Effluvium: A Case-Control Study

7 citations , October 2019 in “Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology”

This study found that specific polymorphisms in the VDR gene, Taq1, and Cdx1, were significantly associated with increased risk of chronic telogen effluvium in women.

research Research on the Balance of Thiol-Disulfide in Blood Serum in Women with Telogen Effluvium

3 citations , January 2019 in “International Journal of Trichology”

This study found no statistical difference in thiol-disulfide balance between telogen effluvium patients and controls, suggesting oxidative stress may not affect telogen effluvium through this mechanism.

research Retrospective Evaluation of Laboratory Data of Patients with Telogen Effluvium

3 citations , January 2019 in “Annals of medical research”

The conclusion cannot be provided because the document content is not available.

research Postfebrile Telogen Effluvium: Hair Fall After Rickettsia Conorii Infection

5 citations , January 2019 in “Giornale italiano di dermatologia e venereologia”

Hair loss can happen after a fever caused by Rickettsia conorii infection.

research Expert Consensus on the Management of Telogen Effluvium in India

19 citations , January 2019 in “International Journal of Trichology”

This consensus paper reviews expert opinions on treating telogen effluvium but reports no new clinical findings.

research The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Hair Loss: A Review

134 citations , December 2018 in “Dermatology and Therapy”

This review discusses the potential role of vitamins and minerals in managing non-scarring alopecia but reports no clinical results; the authors advocate for further controlled trials to explore these relationships.

research Comparative Evaluation Between Two Nutritional Supplements in the Improvement of Telogen Effluvium

9 citations , September 2018 in “Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology”

This study found that, in female patients with idiopathic telogen effluvium, a supplement containing zinc, biotin, and other nutrients significantly improved hair loss and quality over 180 days, whereas another supplement with different ingredients had less consistent effects.

research Hair and Scalp Changes in Cutaneous and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

46 citations , June 2018 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology”

This review summarizes the clinical, trichoscopic, and histopathological features of alopecia types associated with cutaneous and systemic lupus erythematosus and explores their links to disease activity, but it reports no new clinical results.

research Localized Telogen Effluvium Following Hair Transplantation

11 citations , January 2018 in “Annals of Dermatology”

This case study reports that localized telogen effluvium may be a cause of hair loss following hair transplantation, based on observations in two patients with diffuse hair shedding primarily in the frontal and temporal scalp areas.

research Treatment of Chronic Telogen Effluvium with Oral Minoxidil: A Retrospective Study

40 citations , September 2017 in “F1000Research”

In this study, women with chronic telogen effluvium experienced reduced hair shedding after being treated with once daily oral minoxidil for 12 months, but facial hypertrichosis was a reported side effect, suggesting the need for further placebo-controlled research.

research Dengue-Associated Telogen Effluvium: A Report of 14 Patients

13 citations , May 2017 in “Dermatologica Sinica”

In this study, researchers characterized telogen effluvium observed in 14 patients following a dengue outbreak in Tainan, noting a mean onset time of 2.1 months post-infection.

research Stress-Induced Premature Senescence of Dermal Papilla Cells Compromises Hair Follicle Epithelial-Mesenchymal Interaction

35 citations , January 2017 in “Journal of Dermatological Science”

This study suggests that stress-induced premature senescence of dermal papilla cells may contribute to hair follicle aging by impairing critical epithelial-mesenchymal interactions and promoting inflammatory cytokine production.

research Intermittent Chronic Telogen Effluvium

10 citations , January 2017 in “Skin appendage disorders”

This case study reports the first documentation of the intermittent nature of chronic telogen effluvium and suggests a link between emotional stress and hair shedding severity.

research Proposing a Simpler Classification of Telogen Effluvium

21 citations , January 2016 in “Skin appendage disorders”

This review proposes a new classification for telogen effluvium, identifying three pathogenetic types with a common feature of profuse hair shedding, but reports no new clinical results.

research Postpartum Telogen Effluvium

7 citations , January 2015 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

This letter to the editor on postpartum telogen effluvium does not include new research findings or data.

research Trichoscopy in Alopecias: Diagnosis Simplified

96 citations , January 2013 in “International Journal of Trichology”

This article reviews the use of trichoscopy for diagnosing various types of alopecia and reports no new clinical results; it is suggested as a non-invasive method for diagnosis and monitoring treatment responses.

research Indications for Peripheral and Central Sensitization in Patients With Chronic Scalp Pain (Trichodynia)

16 citations , December 2012 in “The Clinical Journal of Pain”

This study found that trichodynia is associated with both peripheral and central sensitization, potentially linked to hair cycle abnormalities and chronic pain through proinflammatory agents.

research Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies in Patients with Telogen Effluvium

12 citations , February 2010 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

Some people with chronic hair loss may have thyroid autoimmunity.

research The Role of Psychological Factors and Serum Zinc, Folate, and Vitamin B12 Levels in the Aetiology of Trichodynia: A Case-Control Study

33 citations , April 2009 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology”

This study observed that psychological factors and serum levels of zinc, folate, and vitamin B12 may contribute to the development of trichodynia.

research Trichodynia Is a Distinguishing Symptom of Telogen Effluvium

24 citations , March 2009 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

This paper highlights trichodynia as a distinguishing symptom of telogen effluvium, but it does not present new clinical findings.

research Hair Evaluation Methods: Merits and Demerits

91 citations , January 2009 in “International Journal of Trichology”

This review discusses the advantages and limitations of various hair loss evaluation methods but reports no new results; it emphasizes the importance of cautious interpretation for these diagnostic tools.

Atrophic Telogen Effluvium from Cytotoxic Drugs and a Randomized Controlled Trial to Investigate the Possible Protective Effect of Pretreatment with a Topical Vitamin D3 Analogue in Humans

research Atrophic Telogen Effluvium from Cytotoxic Drugs and a Randomized Controlled Trial to Investigate the Possible Protective Effect of Pretreatment with a Topical Vitamin D3 Analogue in Humans

47 citations , July 2005 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This study found no protective effect of topical calcipotriol on hair loss in chemotherapy patients, and the authors propose the term "atrophic telogen effluvium" for this type of hair loss.

research Nutritional Factors and Hair Loss

239 citations , July 2002 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology”

This review explores the role of nutritional factors in hair loss, noting that iron and l-lysine supplementation may benefit some individuals, while excessive supplements can lead to hair shedding.

research Causes of Hair Loss and Developments in Hair Rejuvenation

69 citations , February 2002 in “International Journal of Cosmetic Science”

This review discusses genetic and nutritional causes of hair loss, highlighting that around 90% of treated men show noticeable hair regrowth with a dual inhibitor, while women's hair loss may improve by correcting iron and l-lysine deficiencies.

research Teloptosis: A Turning Point in Hair Shedding Biorhythms

56 citations , January 2001 in “Dermatology”

This study introduces the concept of teloptosis, which influences hair shedding during the telogen phase and affects hair density, highlighting that early or delayed teloptosis has noticeable effects.

research Thyroid Hormone Receptor β1 Is Expressed in the Human Hair Follicle

111 citations , April 2000 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement”

In this study, physiological levels of free T3 significantly enhanced the survival of human hair follicles in vitro.

research Chronic Telogen Effluvium: Increased Scalp Hair Shedding in Middle-Aged Women

234 citations , December 1996 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

The authors concluded that chronic telogen effluvium in middle-aged women presents distinct clinical and histological features that differ from androgenetic alopecia and acute telogen effluvium.

research Chronic Telogen Effluvium

75 citations , October 1996 in “Dermatologic Clinics”

This review examines chronic telogen effluvium, highlighting its distinctive features and the need for reassurance about its non-progressive nature, but reports no new clinical results.

research Telogen Effluvium: A Comprehensive Review

214 citations , March 1993 in “Archives of Dermatology”

This article proposes five different mechanisms for telogen effluvium, supported by clinical findings, based on changes in different phases of the hair cycle.

research Telogen Effluvium and Minoxidil

19 citations , September 1989 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Minoxidil treatment may cause hair loss.

research Postfebrile Telogen Effluvium in Critically Ill Patients

21 citations , January 1988 in “Critical Care Medicine”

Critically ill patients may experience temporary hair loss after a fever.