What Is Telogen Effluvium?

Discussion Hair is an epidermal appendage. It has a regular cycle of phases where hair grows (anagen), rests (telogen) and has a transition phase (catagen) in between. Normal hair loss is ~50-100 hairs lost/day on the scalp. Normal hair grows about 2.5 mm/week. The history should include details about general health, health stressors especially in last 4-6 months including fevers, surgeries, new medication and life events are important. Review of systems for possible anemia, diabetes, and hypothyroidism and other autoimmune diseases should be obtained including fatigue, constipation, weight changes, night sweats, eye, muscle or other skin changes. A specific history of drugs and possible toxins is also helpful. On physical examination specific attention should be paid to other dermal appendages (teeth and nails) and a complete skin examination. Texture of the hair and underlying skin should be noted. Some hair should be pulled to see if it can be pulled out intact, breaks or does not pull out. Exclamation hairs (thinner at base with an abnormal bulb) should be noted. A review of localized hair loss can be seen here. Some of the most common causes of localized patchy hair loss is tinea capitus, alopecia aerata and tricotillomania. Alopecia areata causes localized hair loss, with usually round or oval in shape and no inflammation. It is often found on the scalp but may affect other areas of the body. If all of the scalp is involved this is called alopecia totalis and if all o...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news