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Telogen effluvium: a clinically useful concept, with traction alopecia as an example
Cutis
|April 1, 1978
Summary
Telogen effluvium, excessive hair shedding, is diagnosed via microscopic hair examination. Traction alopecia, a common cause, offers a model for studying hair loss mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Trichology
Background:
- Telogen effluvium is characterized by excessive shedding of normal club hairs.
- Diagnosis is achieved through microscopic examination of shed hairs, noting uniform shaft diameter and normally shaped, unpigmented bulbs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the diagnostic features and common causes of telogen effluvium.
- To explore traction alopecia as a potential model for studying telogen conversion.
Main Methods:
- Microscopic examination of shed hairs.
- Clinical observation of hair loss patterns in traction alopecia.
Main Results:
- Telogen effluvium hairs exhibit specific microscopic characteristics.
- Common causes include parturition, illness, surgery, medications, stress, dieting, and traction.
- Traction alopecia presents recognizable patterns, has an excellent prognosis upon discontinuing causative practices, and lacks inflammatory changes.
Conclusions:
- Telogen effluvium is readily diagnosable via hair microscopy.
- Traction alopecia, a reproducible condition, may serve as a valuable model for investigating the mechanisms of telogen conversion, potentially linked to papillary blood flow interference.