Why Do Telogen Effluvium And Pattern Hair Loss Need Different Workups?

Telogen effluvium is temporary and all-over shedding that is set off by a trigger such as stress or illness, and pattern hair loss is patterned and slow thinning driven by hormones and genetics. Pattern hair loss is also termed androgenetic alopecia. Both types of hair loss behave differently and need treatment. In this blog, you will get to know about telogen effluvium vs androgenetic alopecia and also about their difference and comparison.  

Here's the telogen effluvium vs androgenetic alopecia difference:

Telogen Effluvium 

• Hair grows in cycles, and at any time a portion of follicles are in the resting phase before they shed. It happens when the trigger pushes a large number of follicles into the resting phase. After a few months, they shed together, and you notice more hair than usual coming out on the pillow or in the shower.  
• For scale, losing 50 to 100 hairs per day is normal, and there is nothing to worry about. But in telogen effluvium, daily hair count can rise to hundreds, due to which the changes feel alarming. Most cases are normal and settle in about six months, but shedding that continues is called chronic telogen effluvium and needs proper medical care. 
• Common triggers include illness or high fever, childbirth, major surgery, rapid weight loss, stress and some medicines. The shedding appears three months after the trigger, which is often overlooked. When exploring the link between stress and hair loss, stress and rapid weight loss are covered in hair shedding and weight loss. 

Pattern Loss or Androgenetic Alopecia 

• Pattern hair loss can be different in many ways. It is gradual instead of sudden, patterned instead of diffuse and can be driven by inherited follicle sensitivity to DHT instead of only one trigger. It shows a receding hairline and hair thinning from the crown area and describes what causes pattern baldness. 
• Female pattern loss also follows the same process but looks different. Diffuse thinning around the crown area and widening of the portion with the front hairline, which is usually preserved. 
• Because that diffuse thinning can resemble telogen effluvium, women can be caught between two diagnoses. The main difference is the time course, as the pattern in women develops slowly, and telogen effluvium arrives quickly within some weeks, and treatment may also differ. 

Factors on which telogen effluvium vs androgenetic alopecia comparison is done:

Timing: Telogen effluvium develops suddenly, and pattern hair loss or androgenetic alopecia takes time 

Distribution: Hair gets thin evenly in telogen effluvium, but androgenetic alopecia targets the hairline or crown area 

Recovery: Telogen effluvium can recover on its own, but androgenetic alopecia needs proper treatment.  

Amount: A lot of hair shed and or rarely got bald  in telogen effluvium but in androgenetic alopecia progress to visible baldness. 

How Does This Change Treatment 

• This is the practical point of view that telogen effluvium does not need any medicinal treatment at all. Once the trigger passes, the hair regrows again, and the main purpose is to identify and address the trigger, whether it's a thyroid problem, iron deficiency, stress or a crash diet. Reaching for the treatment of pattern loss can miss this point. 
• In contrast, pattern loss is progressive, so treatments that decrease the level of DHT or support hair growth are worth considering at an early stage.  Taking any other treatment can waste money and time and lead to unnecessary worry. That's why the right diagnosis is important before taking any treatment. 

What Addresses Telogen Effluvium 

As telogen effluvium is a response to a trigger instead of a follicle disease, the important step is to address the cause. That means treating the thyroid problem, improving iron deficiency, managing stress and easing off a crash diet. Eating sufficient protein helps in better recovery. Medicinal treatment is rarely required and, importantly, does not fix the problem, which is driven by DHT. 

How To Stop Hair Loss 

• It depends on the problem you are dealing with, for example, telogen effluvium can stop itself once the trigger passes. The main purpose is to support recovery instead of medicating the follicles. 
• But the pattern loss is opposite; it will not stop on its own, but treatments can manage and partially reverse it.  

Bottom Line 

Both telogen effluvium and pattern hair loss lead to hair thinning, but they originate from different biological mechanisms.  Telogen effluvium is temporary and happens due to stress, and pattern loss is chronic, driven by diminishment of hair follicles. The difference between them requires different diagnostic workup for telogen effluvium vs androgenetic alopecia in Ludhiana to prevent mismanagement. Consulting with the specialist Dr. Gurinderjit Singh Puri at Puri Skin Clinic can guide you in a better way regarding hair loss and how to manage it.

FAQ'S 

• How to know if shedding is pattern loss or telogen effluvium?

Pattern loss is gradual and concentrated, and telogen effluvium is sudden. 

• Will hair regrow again after telogen effluvium?

Yes, hair regrows again after telogen effluvium.

• Can stress also trigger hair loss?

Yes, psychological and physical stress can trigger hair loss. 

• Can I have both simultaneously?

Yes, it's possible that you can have both simultaneously.  

• What causes androgenetic alopecia?

Androgenetic alopecia can be caused by hormonal changes in the body, which need proper treatment.