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Acute and Chronic Telogen Effluvium

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European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments

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Abstract

The human hair cycle has four recognised phases; anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen, with the duration of each phase being site specific. In scalp hair, telogen lasts for around 12 weeks, following which the telogen hair is shed, a process instigated by unknown factors in the exogen phase. Any disturbance to the hair cycle will induce a relative change in the equilibrium between growth and rest, initiating an acute telogen effluvium. It is essential therefore to identify the inducing factor so as to consider if any intervention is required; reassurance is frequently all that is needed. However, if the increase in hair shedding persists for 6 months or more (chronic telogen effluvium), then biochemical investigations are required. Frequently hair loss induces changes in the patient’s haircare and grooming routines resulting in an artificial increase in the observed lost hair, and understanding this potential confounding factor is essential. While not specifically part of this chapter, increased hair shedding occurs in patients in whom the hair density (hair per cm2) is also reduced.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Rushton Clinic, London, UK

    Hugh D. Rushton

  2. Centre for Skin Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK

    Hugh D. Rushton

Authors
  1. Hugh D. Rushton
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Andreas Syggros Hospital, Athens State University, Athens, Greece

    Andreas D. Katsambas

  2. Research Center CSRMR, Marconi University, Rome, Roma, Italy

    Torello M. Lotti

  3. Andreas Syggros Hospital, Athens State University, Athens, Greece

    Clio Dessinioti

  4. Dermatoloy Unit, Livorno Hospital, Livorno, Italy

    Angelo Massimiliano D'Erme

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Rushton, H.D. (2023). Acute and Chronic Telogen Effluvium. In: Katsambas, A.D., Lotti, T.M., Dessinioti, C., D'Erme, A.M. (eds) European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15130-9_95

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15130-9_95

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-15129-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-15130-9

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