gastric bypass surgery would be a typical example of a telogen effluvium. The
name "telogen effluvium" explains the nature of the hair loss very well. All hair
follicles in humans run through cycles of activity. During anagen, they
produce hair fiber. During telogen, the follicles are dormant and there is no
further growth. The hair shaft is shed at the end of the telogen phase. Effluvium
is a Latin word that means �letting loose�. So the term �telogen effluvium�
describes hair follicles entering a dormant stage and shedding (letting loose)
the hair shaft.
Telogen effluvium forms of hair loss are generalized and diffuse over the
scalp. Telogen effluvium is not normally a permanent form of hair loss.
Eventually, the hair follicles recover and return to normal hair density usually within
one year.
In a normal, young, healthy individual up to 90% of hair follicles are in an
a growing phase (anagen) and only 10% are in a telogen (resting) phase at any
one moment in time. If your body experiences a systemic physiologic upset,
such as a gastric bypass surgical procedure, many of the anagen hairs can be
shifted into telogen. At the end of that telogen phase, which is typically about
100 days in length, those hairs will all shed. Rarely are more than 50% of the
hairs of the scalp ever involved in a telogen effluvium. The severe shedding
rarely lasts more than the length of the telogen phase, which is about 100
days.
There is no treatment for telogen effluvium. Once the hair follicles entered
the telogen phase, the hair shafts were destined to shed in 3 to 4 months and
there is no way of preventing it from taking its natural course. However, you
will be encouraged to know that the hair follicles have not been damaged and
that all of the hair will grow back in.
If you would like to read more about the phenomenon of telogen effluvium,
please access the article at http://www.minoxidil.com/journal.htm#Telogen.
Richard Lee, M.D."