Introduction to telogen effluvium

Diffuse shedding of telogen hairs (hairs in the shedding phase) from the scalp is common. Telogen effluvium is a reactive hair condition that causes excessive hair shedding. Anagen is prematurely terminated by a triggering event, and many hairs enter the telogen rest phase at the same time. Reassure patients that acute and chronic telogen effluvium do not cause baldness.

See Drugs that can be implicated in hair-loss disorders for a list of drugs that can be implicated in telogen effluvium.