Telogen effluvium (TE) is the second most common type of hair loss. To begin to understand TE, you first have to understand how we grow hair. The follicles on our heads do not produce hair continuously. The growth cycle can last two years or more, then the follicles enter a resting stage that can last up to two months. At any given time, between 80% and 90% of our hair follicles are in the Anagen, or growing stage, and the other 10% to 20% are in the Telogen, or resting stage.
The word effluvium means “outflow”. Telogen effluvium occurs when the number of hair follicles actually producing hair drops significantly during the telogen, or resting phase, creating an increased “outflow” or loss of hair.
TE causes a thinning of hair all over the scalp, not necessarily in the same spots as, say a receding hairline, or male pattern baldness. However, it does show up more on the top of the head than the back or sides.
People suffering from TE rarely lose all of their hair, severe cases do exist where it is much more noticeable than others. It is also normally contained completely on the head, but again, severe cases can affect eyebrows and pubic areas.
Although there can be several causes of TE, many dermatologist believe that our overall reduction in red meat consumption, and a growing number of vegetarians who eat no meat, contributes to a lack of nutrients needed to combat the problem. Many people who do not eat meat, especially red meat, do not get enough iron. Other nutrient dificiencies that can contribute to TE include amino acids, zinc, L-lysine, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12.
Adding foods that are rich in these nutrients to your diet is the best way to get what you need, but sometimes you end up turning to supplements for help. Even all natural vitamin supplements can be a double-edged sword, though. If you take too much iron, you can reach toxic levels, which in turn, can cause hair loss, the very situation you were trying to correct. The same is true with Vitamin A – too much causes toxicity.
If you feel that you need to add vitamin supplements to your diet to help correct your hair loss, the best thing that you can do is to talk to your doctor or dermatologist and let them help you determine which supplements you need and the correct amount for each one.
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