Telogen Effluvium

Chronic hair loss due to telogen effluvium

This is the second most common form of chronic hair loss in women after androgenic alopecia. Chronic telogen effluvium begins like acute telogen effluvium but instead of the hair recovering to normal as seen with the acute form of the disorder it persists. It can last for a decade or more without treatment. Rarely women with this condition may never regain normal hair growth. A key feature is hair not growing as long as it once did. It is differentiated from androgenic alopecia by the pattern of loss, the lack of hair thinning, loss of density and miniaturization. What is experienced is a loss of hair fullness, thickness, and length.

In almost every case there is at least a partial recovery but the characteristics of the regrown hair are inferior to what it was before the loss began. Commonly women who transition from acute to chronic telogen effluvium notice that their hair has not recovered its volume or fullness. They are no longer able to grow their hair as long as before. Their hair just does not feel the same as before. As disturbing as these changes are they never lead to complete baldness. Usually, hair will recover some of its prior virtue but not for many years.

Some causes of chronic telogen effluvium

Chronic telogen effluvium has many of the same inciting causes as acute telogen effluvium such as high fever, chemotherapy, thyroid, liver or kidney disease, systemic lupus and drug therapy. Chronic telogen effluvium also occurs as a primary idiopathic event meaning a disease without a known cause.

Conditions where the follicle is subjected to a combination of severe physical or emotional stress together with a toxin especially when prolonged are associated with the development of chronic telogen effluvium. These insults do not just reset the natural hair cycle as with the acute form but they also lead to the premature death of hair follicles. Dead follicles are not recoverable. The dead body of the follicle is absorbed by the immune system leaving a small scar in its place within the scalp.

The follicles that survive these causes of trauma are often damaged in significant ways that result in their aberrant behavior after they resume the anagen growth cycle. These injuries led to a reduction of how long the follicle remains in the anagen growth phase from a normal 6 years to only a fraction of that. This results in shorter hair that won’t grow longer than 6 to 8 inches on average. Since dead follicles grow no hair this explains why the hair doesn’t look as full or feel as thick. With a shortened growth cycle the hair stays shorter than before. In some, the texture of the hair also changes. In women with chronic telogen effluvium these adverse features predominate and become an ongoing management challenge.

Treatment of chronic telogen effluvium

It is important to be evaluated for treatable disorders that cause chronic telogen effluvium. Some of these can be treated and others cured. In either case, applying an effective therapy to the underlying cause of the hair loss is the best way to obtain good outcomes and more effective response to hair loss therapy.

The chronic telogen effluvium irrespective of its cause responds well to the use of Minca Scalp Spray. Using the spray twice daily stimulates the growth, vigor, and longevity of hair follicles affected by this disorder. By assisting the hair follicle to lengthen its cycle the hair grows longer. Minca Scalp Spray includes medication that stimulates the hair stem cell to repair its damaged DNA. The hair shaft that grows from these repaired cells has more natural characteristics including feel.

Women with chronic telogen effluvium have plenty of living active follicles even when it is caused by a condition associated with follicular death. These remaining follicles can be restored to health by helping them heal and providing them with protection from androgens and ongoing stress.

Minca Scalp Spray provides the hair follicle with a safe environment within which they can repair themselves and grow naturally without suffering new insult or harm. Anti-inflammatory medications found in the spray calm the immune reaction within the scalp. This is another treatable cause of chronic hair loss. The spray also enhances blood flow to the growing base of the follicle. This is a necessary prerequisite for the normal growth and development of a mature hair shaft.