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Why does telogen effluvium appear later?
Make it clearer
Telogen effluvium is hair loss spread evenly across the whole head, without opening up a bald patch in any one spot. Each hair grows out of a follicle, the little pocket of skin that makes it, and that follicle has a resting phase called telogen. In telogen effluvium, what happens is that many follicles go into rest at the same time, and a change in the body or certain medications can push them into it.
The puzzling part is the delay: the hair lets go months after whatever sent it to rest, like a letter dropped in a mailbox that arrives a season later, so by the time the person notices the shedding, the trigger is already behind them and can go unnoticed. The follicle is not destroyed, it is still down there, and the scalp is not left with a visible scar. That is why telogen effluvium is classified among the non-scarring alopecias.
In brief
Telogen effluvium is widespread shedding that does not destroy the follicle. It happens when many follicles enter telogen, the resting phase, together.
Changes in the body or certain medications can trigger that shift. The shedding shows up months later, so its cause may be missed.
Many follicles shift from growth to rest at almost the same time. The hairs stay for a while, then are shed as a delayed wave.
The hair follicles remain intact and there is no visible scarring, so this is classified as nonscarring alopecia.
Sources (2)
- American Academy of DermatologyDo you have hair loss or hair shedding?
- National Library of MedicineTelogen Effluvium
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated