Excessive hair shedding

Medical terms

Acute telogen effluvium, chronic telogen effluvium

Common terms

Excessive hair shedding, alopecia

Overview

The shedding of hair is a natural part of the hair growing cycle and as new hair is grown, old hair is shed. When shedding becomes increased and excessive hair volume decreases we view it as a medical condition.

Symptoms and signs

Excessive hair loss or dramatic thinning of the hair. Acute telogen effluvium typically resolves itself with the shed hair being recovered. Chronic telogen effluvium typically reaches an equilibrium with the hair loss balancing with hair growth.

Treatment

Treatment involves finding the underlying or precipitating causes for increased hair shedding and then excluding these causes. Topical minoxidil may also be of use. There is a proportion of the population who do not respond to treatment.