Hair Shedding and Telogen Effluvium

What Is Telogen Effluvium?

Telogen effluvium is a type of hair shedding that occurs when a larger number of hairs than usual move into the telogen, or resting, phase of the hair cycle.

Hair grows in cycles. Not every hair is growing at the same time. Some hairs are actively growing, while others are naturally resting and preparing to shed.

With telogen effluvium, the balance of the cycle is disrupted, causing more hairs to shed than usual.

This shedding is often diffuse, meaning it may happen across the scalp rather than in one single patch.

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What Does Telogen Effluvium Look Like?

Telogen effluvium often presents as increased shedding rather than obvious bald patches.

You may notice:

• More hair coming out when washing

• More hair on your brush or comb

• Hair collecting on your clothing, pillow, or floor

• A thinner ponytail

• Reduced overall density

• Hair feeling less full than usual

• Increased shedding across the scalp

• Shedding that feels sudden or unusual

In some cases, people may also notice thinning in areas where there is already an underlying tendency toward pattern hair loss.

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What Can Trigger Telogen Effluvium?

Telogen effluvium can be triggered by many different physical or emotional stressors.

Possible triggers may include:

• Significant emotional stress

• Illness or fever

• Surgery

• Rapid weight loss

• Major dietary changes

• Low iron stores or nutritional changes

• Thyroid changes

• Hormonal changes

• Childbirth

• Menopause or perimenopause

• Medication changes

• Stopping or starting hormonal medication

• Significant life events

• Physical stress on the body

Sometimes the trigger is obvious. Other times, it may only become clearer after looking carefully at your history and timeline.

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Why Can Hair Shed Months After a Trigger?

One of the most confusing parts of telogen effluvium is the delay.

Hair shedding often starts around 2-3 months after a trigger. This means the event that contributed to the shedding may have happened months before you notice increased hair fall.

For example, shedding may appear months after stress, illness, surgery, weight loss, childbirth, a medication change, or hormonal change.

This delay happens because the hair cycle takes time to respond. Hair that has shifted into the resting phase does not shed immediately.

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How Long Does Telogen Effluvium Last?

The duration of telogen effluvium can vary.

In some cases, shedding settles once the trigger has resolved and the hair cycle begins to rebalance. In other cases, shedding may continue if the trigger is ongoing, repeated, or if there are multiple contributing factors.

Hair growth also takes time. Even once shedding improves, visible density may take several months to recover because new hairs need time to grow long enough to be seen and felt.

This is why improvement is usually gradual rather than immediate.

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Acute vs Chronic Telogen Effluvium

Telogen effluvium may be described as acute or chronic.

Acute telogen effluvium usually occurs after a clear trigger and may improve over time once the underlying trigger has passed.

Chronic telogen effluvium involves ongoing or repeated shedding over a longer period. It may be more difficult to identify a single trigger and often requires a more detailed assessment of possible contributing factors.

If shedding is continuing, worsening, or recurring, it is worth having the hair and scalp assessed.

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Is Hair Shedding the Same as Hair Loss?

Hair shedding and hair loss are related, but they are not always the same thing.

Shedding refers to hairs falling out from the scalp as part of the hair cycle. Hair loss may involve reduced density, miniaturisation, patchy hair loss, scarring changes, or changes in the ability of the follicle to produce healthy hair.

In some cases, shedding may be temporary. In other cases, shedding may occur alongside another type of hair loss, such as female pattern hair loss or male pattern hair loss.

This is why it is important to assess the pattern, timeline, scalp health, and possible triggers rather than assuming all hair loss is the same.

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Can Telogen Effluvium Happen Alongside Female Pattern Hair Loss?

Yes. Telogen effluvium can sometimes occur at the same time as female pattern hair loss or other types of hair loss.

This can make the hair appear thinner more quickly, especially around the part line, crown, or areas where density was already reduced.

A person may experience increased shedding from telogen effluvium while also having underlying pattern thinning. In these cases, addressing shedding alone may not fully explain the change in density.

A detailed assessment can help identify whether shedding, pattern thinning, scalp inflammation, nutritional factors, hormonal changes, or other causes may be contributing.

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Can Blood Tests Be Relevant?

Blood test results may be useful in some cases of increased hair shedding.

Markers that may be relevant include:

• Full blood count

• Iron studies

• Ferritin

• Vitamin D

• Vitamin B12

• Folate

• Thyroid function

• Zinc

• Inflammatory markers

• Hormonal testing where appropriate

Not every person needs every test. Blood results should also be interpreted alongside your symptoms, history, hair loss pattern, scalp findings, medications, and recent triggers.

It is also possible to be told that blood test results are "normal" and still have factors that may not be ideal for healthy hair growth.

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How a Trichology Consultation Can Help

A trichology consultation can help assess hair shedding by looking at the bigger picture.

At Carmen Du Preez Trichology, your consultation may include:

• A detailed history of your shedding timeline

• Discussion of possible triggers

• Review of stress, illness, surgery, weight loss, hormonal changes, medications and nutrition

• Hair and scalp assessment

• High-magnification trichoscopy

• Review of relevant blood test results where appropriate

• Assessment of whether shedding may be occurring alone or alongside another hair loss pattern

• Guidance on suitable next steps

• Referral guidance where medical assessment may be appropriate

The goal is to help you better understand what may be contributing to your shedding and what steps may be appropriate.

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When Should You Book a Consultation for Hair Shedding?

You may benefit from booking a consultation if:

• Your shedding feels excessive

• Shedding has continued for more than a few weeks

• Your ponytail feels thinner

• Your hair density has noticeably reduced

• You are shedding after stress, illness, weight loss, surgery, childbirth, or medication changes

• Your part line or crown also appears thinner

• You have scalp itching, flaking, redness, burning, or tenderness

• You are unsure whether your shedding is normal

• Your blood tests have been called normal but your hair is still shedding

• You have tried supplements or products without understanding the cause

Early assessment can help reduce guesswork and guide a more informed approach.

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Book a Hair Shedding Consultation in Perth

If you are concerned about excessive hair shedding, telogen effluvium, or sudden changes in hair density, a trichology consultation can help provide clarity.

Carmen Du Preez Trichology offers hair and scalp consultations in Perth, including detailed case history, scalp assessment, trichoscopy, and review of relevant blood test results where appropriate.

Book an initial trichology consultation to better understand your hair shedding and take the next step with more confidence.

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Related reading:

• Can Stress Cause Hair Loss Months Later? What Is Telogen Effluvium

• Why Is My Hair Shedding So Much?

• Hair Shedding After Stress

• Why Is My Hair Still Shedding If My Blood Tests Are Normal?

• Low Iron and Hair Loss