Chronic Telogen Effluvium

Chronic telogen effluvium is a form of diffuse hair loss affecting the entire scalp. The onset is usually abrupt and the hair may come out in handfuls. However, the condition represents shedding rather than actual hair loss and does not cause complete baldness. Sometimes the excess shedding may only be noticeable to the person experiencing the condition.

Many products have been developed, manufactured, produced and marketed to address female hair loss. Two treatments (one for women) and one phototherapy device are licensed and approved by government medical authorities in the United Kingdom and the Unites States for the treatment of female hair loss.

Causes

Chronic telogen effluvium has triggering factors similar to acute telogen effluvium, such as anaemia, childbirth, chronic illness or a major life stress, among other things.

Diagnosis

Chronic telogen effluvium has distinctive clinical and histologic features that are usually diagnostic. A medical professional may seek to conduct a series of diagnostic tests and a medical/family history checks to establish the most probable cause and treatment method.

This type of hair loss usually affects women aged 30 to 60 years who generally have a full head of hair prior to the onset of shedding.

Chronic telogen effluvium differs from acute telogen effluvium by its persistence and its tendency to fluctuate over a period of years.

Treatment

In most cases of chronic telogen effluvium hair shedding will cease but the volume of hair will not be restored without treatment. In other cases hair loss continues until the underlying cause is resolved.

There are many hair loss products intended to address hair loss in women that contain ingredients that may support healthy hair growth during to concurrent treatment of the causal condition.

However, to treat hair loss and stimulate hair growth, only one treatment (two for men) and one phototherapy device are clinically proven, licensed and approved by government medical authorities in the United Kingdom and the Unites States for these purposes. They are Minoxidil (and Propecia for men) and the HairMax LaserComb.