Acute telogen effluvium

Acute telogen effluvium occurs 3 months after a trigger. Triggers may include childbirth, psychological stress, acute severe illness, major surgery, crash dieting and sudden weight loss, starting a new drug, or starting, changing or stopping an oral contraceptive. Patients often describe shedding their hair ‘in clumps’.

Scalp sensitivity, burning and itching is a relatively common component of the presentation of acute telogen effluvium.

If the trigger can be identified, no treatment is needed other than addressing the trigger if it is ongoing (eg crash dieting), and reassuring the patient that the excessive shedding should resolve within 6 to 9 months.