Types of hair loss: Telogen effluvium

There are many different medical treatments for hair loss. This is because people lose their hair for various reasons, so it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. Understanding why your hair is thinning will help you find the right treatment and enjoy your new hair.

Throughout your life, your hair will exist in three different stages: Growing, resting  and falling. It's natural for everyone to experience some level of thinning hair as they age, but these types of baldness come sooner. The word that doctors use to describe hair loss is "alopecia." This does not represent one type of hair loss, but a whole slew of scalp and follicle ailments. We will be discussing different types of hair loss, and the recommended treatments. 

Telogen Effluvium
At times, a particularly stressful life event can shock your system. This stress can effect the three stages that your hair goes through, pushing it from the rest stage to the thinning stage. This is known as telogen effluvium, and it is the second most common form of hair loss, according to the American Hair Loss Association. Studies on TE are relatively sparse, and doctors continue to learn more about this ailment. 

Depending on the nature of the shock, this hair loss can be over quickly, or it can be prolonged. In some cases the physical effects won't start to show up until months after the stress begins to affect a person. Generally telogen effluvium won't lead to complete baldness, but the thinned hair can be noticeable. In addition to a stressful event like a car crash, a prolonged illness, a poor diet or certain medications can cause TE.

Who is at risk?
TE can affect a wide range of individuals. People with poor overall health and poor diets are likely candidates, as well as individuals dealing with severe stress or hormonal imbalances. 

Treatments
The good news is that whatever the cause, these results are often reversible. When the stress from the event passes, or if you improve your diet and overall health, then the hair loss will eventually subside. If the hair loss persists over a long period of time, or if the cause cannot be determined, hair restoration treatments such as FUE could be an option. 

If you're suffering from hair loss and you'd like to learn more about hair replacement treatments on Long Island, schedule an appointment with Marotta Hair Restoration. Dr. Marotta is a dual-board certified facial plastic surgeon with expertise in various medical treatments for hair loss. Visit our website to learn more about FUE, FUT and all of the other treatment options we offer to our clients.