Telogen Effluvium hair loss caused by traumatic stress

There are five main reasons for hair loss: stress, diet, health, environmental, use of drugs or chemicals and genetics. Most people would have been told, by someone or another professional, that stress is the reason for hair loss, without reference to health.

However, we can categorise stress into three categories: acute, chronic, and trauma. All three can cause hair loss.

Acute Stress – this is what we experience in the normal routine of life for example, major traffic causing missed appointments, or the non critical illness of a loved one that requires your attention. The effect of acute stress is usually temporary and allows us to easily return to our usual routine.

Chronic Stress – this can be more long term, caused by situations for which we cannot seem to find a solution for example, job and family related issues with a direct effect on our life or circumstances.

Traumatic Stress – this is the most severe and often causes Telogen Effluvium. Sometimes hair loss can be immediate or may take effect up to three months after the fact. Traumatic stress can be caused by situations that are sudden, cause major disruption to our lives and /or severe trauma or illness. It affects our entire nervous system and can cause our organs to malfunction. Since we do not need hair to live, this can be the first casualty. Our body system will channel nutrients to other vital organs in an attempt to keep us alive. Telogen Effluvium is a temporary shedding of hair from the follicle, caused by traumatic stress, which can be physical or emotional. Hair that should be in the growth or resting stage of the cycle goes straight to the fall out stage or telogen stage. Persons with this type of hair loss tend to become concerned by seeing their hair strands on the floor, in the bath or sink or even in their food.

This condition can be caused by extreme stress or illness, which may include fever, excessive blood loss, use of certain medications, etc. This type of hair loss can occur from three weeks to three months after the root cause and can last for as long as one year.

Post-partum alopecia (hair loss) is also called Telogen Efflvium and is caused by extreme hormonal changes that occur during and after pregnancy. During pregnancy the hair follicles may not be able to go through the resting or falling-out stages, so hair will become dense. Following the birth however, the hair cycle can again go through the resting and falling out stages resulting in rapid hair loss. In this case however, there is no need for treatment. All that is required is for the client to continues the multi-vitamin regime and the hair cycle will go back to normal.

There is an old adage, “your hair is your beauty”. I agree that nicely styled hair can make you feel and look beautiful but I must remind you that your hair is also there to protect the skull, which protects the brain. I am sure that you do not usually remember this. Hence, the need to keep your hair healthy.

In addition, women may decide to use braids or extensions to enhance the now unhealthy hair as quick fix methods, causing more stress to the hair and scalp. This can lead to permanent hair loss, which can adversely affect the self-esteem of most women.

It is for the above reasons that we recommend that you seek a consultation with a qualified Trichologist for analysis and possible solutions to your hair loss problem before engaging in quick fix solutions.

Germaine Williams Beckles

is a Doctor of Trichology (DT) http://www.geesexclusive.com

1-868-627-4659

Email us your questions at queries@geesexclusive.com