How does the hair growth cycle work?
Normally, about nine out of ten hairs are in the growth phase, and the rest are in the resting phase, and up to one hundred hairs are lost per day. Severe stress on the body synchronizes the cycle: many follicles simultaneously stop working and grow hair after two to three months. That is why a person notices loss when the provoking event is already in the past and seems forgotten. The follicle does not die, it simply becomes empty and after a while begins to grow hair again.
- Anagen - active growth, lasts for years
- Catagen - short transition phase
- Telogen - rest, 2–3 months
- Loss of old hair and the beginning of a new cycle
- The rate of loss is approximately up to 100 hairs per day
Causes and risk factors
Most often, there is more than one reason: for example, the postpartum period is associated with low ferritin, and a strict diet is associated with a hidden thyroid disease. A separate group of causes are medications: hair loss can begin due to certain blood pressure medications, hormonal medications, anticoagulants, and medications for the treatment of the thyroid gland. You cannot cancel the prescription yourself, but you must tell your doctor about the loss.
- Postpartum period (usually 2–4 months after birth)
- High fever, severe infection, surgery, anesthesia
- Iron deficiency and low ferritin, heavy menstruation
- Hypothyroidism and thyrotoxicosis
- Drastic weight loss, strict diets, lack of protein
- Severe or prolonged psycho-emotional stress
- Taking and stopping certain medications
What does it look like
Hair remains on the pillow, in the comb, in the shower drain, the bun in your hand seems frighteningly large. The thinning is uniform, but most noticeable in the parting area and along the edge of hair growth, and the tail becomes thinner. The scalp is healthy: without scars, redness and pustules. Foci of complete baldness the size of a coin are not typical for telogen effluvium - this is a sign of alopecia areata and a reason for a separate examination.
- Diffuse thinning throughout the head
- Hair falls out with a white nodule at the root
- The parting widens, the tail becomes thinner
- Scalp without rashes or scars
- There are no areas of baldness
Survey
The doctor clarifies what happened 2-4 months ago, evaluates the scalp and performs trichoscopy - an examination under magnification that allows you to distinguish telogen effluvium from androgenetic and cicatricial alopecia. The laboratory minimum is aimed at searching for deficiencies and hormonal causes. In women with thinning in the parietal zone, the level of androgens is additionally monitored, and in case of complaints of weakness and changes in the cycle, thyroid hormones are monitored.
- Scalp examination and trichoscopy
- Ferritin, iron, complete blood count
- TSH and, if necessary, thyroid hormones
- Vitamin D, blood protein
- According to indications - androgens, examination by a gynecologist
- Reviewing the list of medications taken
Treatment and care
The main thing is to eliminate the cause: replenish iron under the control of ferritin, correct the functioning of the thyroid gland, and establish a diet with a sufficient amount of protein. A doctor can prescribe external means to stimulate growth, but independent selection often leads to disappointment and unnecessary expenses. Vitamins “just in case” without a confirmed deficiency do not accelerate growth. You can and should wash your hair as often as required: washing does not increase hair loss, but only washes away already separated hair.
- Treating the underlying cause and correcting deficiencies
- A nutritious diet with sufficient protein
- Gentle care: without tight hairstyles, hot styling and aggressive chemicals
- External hair growth products - only as prescribed by a doctor
- Refusal of dietary supplements and “cleanses” as a method of treatment
- Patience: the first new hair is visible after 3–6 months