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Telogen Effluvium

Sahil Mullick, FAAFP, MD and Sreelakshmi Surendran Pillai, MD Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

Acute, self-limited diffuse hair loss or hair thinning 

DESCRIPTION

Telogen effluvium (TE) is a transient condition in which there is a premature conversion of a significant proportion of anagen ...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Commonly, an inciting event 2 to 6 months previous to noted hair loss

  • Fear of becoming bald

  • Patients often present with evidence of hair loss with collections of hair or photographs

PHYSICAL EXAM

TREATMENT

TE is a benign, self-limited process. Identify and correct underlying cause. Patient should be reassured that hair growth will resume in 3-6 months, with full growth to return in 12-18 month...

ONGOING CARE

DIET

If a measurable deficiency has been found, it should be corrected. A balanced diet and stable body weight are important. Although the use of polyphenolic compounds such as those in gr...

REFERENCES

1
Malkud S. Telogen effluvium: a review. J Clin Diagn Res. 2015;9:WE01–WE03.
2
Karashima  T, Tsuruta  D, Hamada  T, et al. Oral zinc therapy for zinc deficiency-related...

ADDITIONAL READING

Mounsey  AL, Reed  SW. Diagnosing and treating hair loss. Am Fam Physician.  2009;80(4):356–362. PMID:  [View Abstract]  

CODES

ICD10

L65.0 Telogen effluvium 

SNOMED

  • 39479004 Telogen effluvium (disorder)

  • 403328001 Chronic telogen effluvium (disorder)

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • TE is a self-limited form of nonscarring alopecia, most often acute.

  • TE is due to a premature conversion of a significant proportion of anagen (growth phase) hairs into telogen (resting...

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