What Causes Widespread Hair Loss?

Widespread, that is, general hair loss in the entire haired area, is called Telogen hair loss. It is a type of hair loss that occurs as a result of a disruption in the hair cycle.

In some cases, factors such as stress, disease, hormonal changes or nutritional deficiencies can cause the hair to end its growth phase early and enter the resting phase. This situation is called widespread hair loss, or telogen hair loss.

Normal Hair Cycle

Normally, 85-90% of our hair is in the growth phase (anagen), 10-15% is in the resting phase (telogen) and a very small portion is in the transition phase (catagen). The anagen phase is the period when the hair grows and can last 2-8 years. Then the hair enters the resting phase and remains in this phase for about 2-3 months. At the end of the resting phase, new hair is formed and the old hair falls out.

Sudden Hair Loss Hair loss that lasts less than 6 months is called "acute telogen effluvium". It usually occurs 2-5 months after a triggering event. The most common causes of this condition are:

Stress,
High fever,
Surgeries,
Crash diets.
Postpartum hormonal changes can also cause acute TE and this type of hair loss is called "telogen gravidarum". In addition, excessive exposure to sunlight in the summer months (actinic effluvium) can also cause acute TE.

Patients usually see a doctor when they notice that their hair is falling out a lot when combing or washing it. Most of the time, the scalp looks healthy and the hair loss resolves itself within a few months. However, in some cases, the hair loss can become chronic because the hair follicles cannot return to normal.

Chronic Telogen Effluvium (TE)

If hair loss lasts longer than 6 months, it is called "chronic telogen effluvium". This condition is usually seen in middle-aged women and sometimes follows a fluctuating course. In other words, the loss can increase and decrease. Symptoms of chronic TE are as follows:

Long-term hair loss,
Newly grown hair is thin and short,
Recession of the hairline, especially in the temple area.
To diagnose this condition, underlying causes such as thyroid disease, iron deficiency, and malnutrition must be eliminated. Chronic TE generally causes a small loss in the overall volume of the hair.

Treatment and Things to Consider

Telogenous hair loss is often temporary. When the underlying cause is eliminated, the hair returns to normal. However, the following should be considered during this process:

Healthy and balanced diet,
Elimination of iron deficiency,
Methods for coping with stress,
If necessary, consult a doctor and receive appropriate treatment.