Telogen Effluvium vs. Androgenetic Alopecia

Are you suffering from hair loss, and you can't understand why and how it affects you? Hair loss can be a stressful event, especially when you do not know the root causes, and it is one of the things that might be occurring to you. Hair conditions like telogen effluvium and androgenetic alopecia are common issues, and you might suffer from one.

Thus, understanding their differences becomes necessary if you want to take proper care of your hair. In this guide on telogen effluvium vs androgenetic alopecia, you can find the root cause of your condition and learn the best way to treat it. So keep reading to find out more.

Note: If you are facing either of these conditions, our hair fall treatment could be just the right solution for your needs. Dr Batra’s® is a renowned name in homeopathic treatments with a legacy of over 40 years, and hair fall treatments have been our speciality the whole time.

What is Telogen Effluvium?

Telogen Effluvium (TE) is a temporary hair loss condition that happens when there is a disruption in the hair growth cycle due to conditions like stress. It happens due to the hair follicles prematurely falling into the telogen or resting phase. 

Telogen Effluvium and its Causes

TE is mostly caused by disruptions that cause stress either emotionally or physically and damage the growth cycle of hair. Here are a few causes:

• Stress - One of the most common reasons for TE is definitely stress. Anxiety and trauma caused in your regular life can cause trouble in your hair growth cycle. Moreover, physical stress caused by surgery, etc., can also act as a cause.
• Illness - Several infections can be a reason for TE, such as COVID-19, influenza, etc. Moreover, autoimmune conditions like lupus, psoriasis, and even chronic inflammation can be reasons for telogen effluvium.
• Medications - Certain medications highly affect the growth of hair. Some can cause side effects that can even lead to complete hair loss. Drugs like antidepressants and retinoids are known for disabling the hair cycle.
• Nutritional Deficiencies - If your diet is lacking certain nutrients, then you can certainly have hair loss issues. Nutrients like iron, zinc, protein, vitamin B12, and much more are required for hair growth and strength, and without them, you can have conditions like TE.
• Postpartum Changes - Sometimes, after childbirth, women can experience a lot of distress and hormonal changes. This can result in noticeable shedding of hair. This is also known as postpartum hair loss and is more common than you know.

Also Read - How to Stop Hair Fall in UAE

Symptoms of Telogen Effluvium

Here are a few symptoms of telogen effluvium:

• Hair Shedding - You will find even hair loss all throughout your scalp and not hair loss in patches. The hairline remains almost the same but only thinner and less dense. There is a visible difference in quantity rather than the structure.
• Premature Hair Fall - You will find healthy hair falling out. The fallen hair also often has white root bulbs at the end, which shows the resting phase of the follicles. This means that there is no damage done to the hair; the reason for this hair fall is due to entering the resting phase.
• Sudden Onset - After only a few months of any stressful event or other cases, you will suddenly find your hair falling more and even faster than usual. It takes a few months to go from the growth phase to the resting phase, where the hair fall begins.

Diagnosis of Telogen Effluvium

Here is how you can diagnose telogen effluvium:

• Clinical Observation - You should go to a dermatologist to assess your scalp. It will help you understand what type of hair loss you are facing, and then you can have personalised treatment based on hair appearance, thinning, and scalp condition.
• Patient History - It is important to know the patient's past information. Their medical history, triggers, diets, medications, etc., can help in knowing the main cause of hair loss. After this, it can be easier to make a report and treat the condition.
• Hair Pull Test - If a small section of hair is pulled and 10% or more of those strands fall out, then it may indicate that the patient has TE. This is a simple way to determine the condition of the hair. If the fallen hairs have a white bulb at the root, then it may be telogen phase shedding.

What is Androgenetic Alopecia?

Androgenetic alopecia or AGA, also known as male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness, is a common genetically achieved hair loss condition. There is a progressive thinning of hair, which is permanent, and hair follicles are completely destroyed.

Androgenetic Alopecia and its Causes

• Genetic Factors AGA is a hereditary condition that is inherited by either one or both parents. It is a common condition, and the level of damage depends on the pattern of follicle miniaturisation.
• Androgen Influence An enzyme called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) binds itself to androgen receptors present in hair follicles. This ends up shortening the anagen or growth phase and heightens the telogen or resting phase.
• Gender Gender plays an important role in the type of AGA. While male pattern baldness usually has an M-shaped hairline, which is receding and thinning hair at the top of the scalp, women do not have a receding hairline but only severe hair loss at the top.

Symptoms and Progression of Androgenetic Alopecia

Here are the symptoms and progression for AGA:

• Thinning and Miniaturization - The shrinking of hair follicles leads to the production of thinner and shorter hair. Over time, this shrinkage can permanently stop producing more hair and can then lead to bald spots, which are perfectly visible.
• Hair Density - Over the years, you will find that the density of your hair has decreased. While your hair loss was already happening,  it will now be more noticeable and visible to the naked eye.
• Duration and Progression - This condition of your hair gradually recedes over time. During the initial stages, it is not as easy to notice the hair fall or baldness, but it will now be more noticeable. This condition begins earlier in men than women.

Diagnosis of Androgenetic Alopecia

Here is how you can diagnose AGA:

• Clinical Assessment - You need to go to a dermatologist to identify the pattern of hair loss, its characteristics, and the nature of the scalp. With this assessment, you can have a personalised treatment that will be suitable, especially for your condition.
• Family History - Learning about family medical conditions can help diagnose this faster than usual. If there is any pattern of baldness in your parents, it can help ensure the condition and add to your given condition.
• Trichoscopy - It is a magnified scalp examination that can help identify the size of hair follicles and, in turn, help in the early identification of follicle miniaturisation. With this method, you can learn about your condition early on and treat your scalp accordingly.

Key Differences Between Telogen Effluvium and Androgenetic Alopecia

Here are the key differences between telogen effluvium and androgenetic alopecia:

Features	Telogen Effluvium	Androgenetic Alopecia
Onset and Duration	It is sudden and triggered by an incident. Temporary duration.	It is gradual and progressive, with hair thinning and worsening over time.
Hair Loss Pattern	Diffused shedding all over the scalp.	Pattern thinning. Receding hairline is for men, and hair loss at the top of the scalp is for women.
Underlying Causes	Stress, injury, surgery, anxiety.	The main cause is genetic.
Reversibility	It is completely reversible.	It requires ongoing management, such as medicines, treatments, etc.

Treatment and Management with Homeopathy

Homeopathic medicines are a much better alternative to other pharmaceutical medicines. This is due to their holistic approach to treatments. When it comes to hair loss, it focuses on the underlying causes rather than depending on symptoms alone.

Why Choose Dr Batra’s® for Hair Loss Treatment?

Dr Batra’s® is known for providing excellent hair loss services by combining homoeopathy and trichology. You can find yourself with tailored treatment plans which will cater to your needs while integrating homoeopathic remedies. They have also expanded their homeopathy clinics in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to offer holistic hair loss management internationally.

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