There are many confusing terms surrounding hair loss in women, which can be bewildering to someone who has just started to experience a hair loss condition.
In addition to alopecia, the most commonly discussed type of hair loss condition due to celebrity sufferer Gail Porter, you may also hear about telogen effluvium. This rather frightening-sounding condition is actually the medical term for a sudden interruption to the natural growth cycle of the hair, generally due to some form of emotional or physical stress.
You may be surprised to know that telogen effluvium is one of the most common, although it isn’t mentioned in the media as much as alopecia areata. It has a variety of causes, the main one being childbirth.
Other causes of telogen effluvium include:
• Major surgery
• Serious illness or infection
• Fever
• Chemotherapy or radiotherapy
• Eating disorders or crash diets (where the body is deprived of as much iron or protein)
• Anaemia
• Psychological stress or emotional disorders
• Drugs or prescribed medication
Treatment
Telogen effluvium is generally only temporary, unlike alopecia areata. You just need to give your hair follicles time to rest and recover, whilst avoiding stress or any of the above triggers. In the meantime, you may want to consider a hair loss management option such as human hair wigs to boost your confidence.