Telogen effluvium hair loss is a common, usually temporary condition in which a stress or shock to the body pushes an unusually large number of hairs into the resting (telogen) phase, causing widespread shedding two to three months later. It typically resolves on its own within three to six months once the trigger is addressed, and it does not cause permanent baldness.<\/p>\n
Hair grows in cycles. At any time, most of your hair is in the active growing phase (anagen), while a smaller proportion is in the resting phase (telogen) before being shed and replaced. Telogen effluvium occurs when a significant trigger forces far more hairs than usual into the resting phase at once. A few months later, those hairs are released together, producing noticeable, diffuse shedding across the whole scalp.<\/p>\n
Unlike male or female pattern hair loss, telogen effluvium does not target a specific area such as the crown or hairline. Instead, the hair thins all over and often feels less dense, with more strands than normal coming out when you brush or wash. Importantly, the follicles themselves remain healthy, which is why the condition is usually reversible.<\/p>\n
Telogen effluvium is the body’s response to a disturbance. The trigger usually occurs around two to three months before the shedding becomes obvious, which can make the cause hard to spot at first. Common triggers include:<\/p>\n
Identifying the trigger matters because removing or treating it is the key to recovery. In many cases the cause is a single event; in others, an ongoing issue such as untreated iron deficiency keeps the shedding going.<\/p>\n
The hallmark of telogen effluvium is diffuse shedding rather than patchy or receding loss. You might notice more hair on your pillow, in the shower drain or on your brush, and your ponytail may feel thinner. Crucially, the scalp does not usually become completely bald, and there is no scarring or inflammation.<\/p>\n
It is easy to confuse the two, but they behave differently. The table below sets out the main contrasts.<\/p>\n