TRIGGERS VAN DIFFUSE HAARUITVAL

What triggers telogen effluvium?

Telogeen effluvium ontstaat wanneer een lichamelijke, hormonale of emotionele verandering veel haren tegelijk naar de rustfase verplaatst. De zichtbare haaruitval begint meestal pas twee tot vier maanden later, waardoor de oorzaak niet altijd direct herkenbaar is.

Vrouw denkt na over mogelijke oorzaken van diffuse haaruitval

In brief

Telogeen effluvium is een reactie van de haarcyclus op een lichamelijke, hormonale, voedingsgerelateerde of emotionele trigger.
Ziekte met koorts, een operatie, bevalling, snel gewichtsverlies en bepaalde medicijnen zijn bekende mogelijke triggers.
De haaruitval begint vaak twee tot vier maanden na de uitlokkende gebeurtenis.
Soms spelen meerdere factoren tegelijk een rol en wordt geen duidelijke trigger gevonden.
Het achterhalen en waar mogelijk corrigeren van de oorzaak is belangrijker dan alleen de haaruitval bestrijden.

Illustratie van een trigger die meer haarzakjes naar de rustfase verplaatst

HAIR CYCLE RESPONSE

How does a trigger put hairs into the resting phase?

A significant change in the body can shift a larger number of hair follicles from the growth phase to the resting phase at the same time. The hairs do not fall out immediately: they remain in the scalp for some time.

When new hairs begin to grow, the resting hairs are shed. As a result, diffuse hair loss often becomes noticeable only two to four months after the trigger.

Physical tax

Illness, fever, surgery, and physical stress

A serious infection, high fever, major surgery, accident, or other significant physical strain can temporarily disrupt the hair cycle. A long-lasting or poorly controlled condition can also contribute.

Not every illness causes telogen effluvium. The risk depends, among other things, on the severity, duration, recovery period, and combination with other factors, such as inadequate nutrition or emotional stress.

Read about hair loss after illness or surgery

Vrouw tijdens herstel na ziekte, stress of hormonale verandering

Vrouw merkt diffuse haaruitval enkele maanden na een mogelijke trigger

HORMONAL CHANGES

Pregnancy, childbirth, and thyroid function

After giving birth, the drop in hormone levels can cause many hairs to enter the resting phase at the same time. This postpartum hair loss usually begins several months after delivery and often gradually resolves.

Changes in hormonal medication and an overactive or underactive thyroid can also trigger diffuse hair loss. If in doubt, targeted blood tests may be appropriate.

Read about postpartum hair loss

NUTRITION AND WEIGHT

Deficiencies, strict diets, and rapid weight loss

Rapid weight loss, a severely calorie-restricted diet, or insufficient protein can be a trigger. An actual iron deficiency or another nutritional disorder may also play a role, but a deficiency must be established rather than simply assumed based on hair loss.

Do not take randomly high doses of supplements. If symptoms persist, have a healthcare professional assess whether testing for, among other things, iron status, thyroid function, or other possible causes would be appropriate.

Geleidelijk verloop en herstel van telogeen effluvium na een trigger

Professional onderzoekt diffuse haaruitval en mogelijke oorzaken

MEDICATION AND CONDITIONS

Can medications cause hair loss?

Some medications have been linked to telogen effluvium. The timing, start or dosage change, and other possible triggers should be assessed together; a temporal association does not automatically prove that the medication is the cause.

Never stop prescribed medication on your own. Discuss hair loss with the prescribing doctor, who can assess whether an adjustment would be safe and medically appropriate. Sometimes the cause remains unknown despite investigation.

De trigger ligt vaak enkele maanden terug

Kijk bij plotselinge diffuse haaruitval niet alleen naar wat er nu gebeurt. Denk ook terug aan ziekte, hoge koorts, een operatie, bevalling, sterke stress, een dieet, snel gewichtsverlies of een verandering in medicatie van twee tot vier maanden eerder. Stop medicijnen nooit op eigen initiatief; bespreek vermoedens met een arts.

Vragen over oorzaken van telogeen effluvium

There is no single main cause. Possible triggers include illness, fever, surgery, childbirth, hormonal changes, severe stress, rapid weight loss, deficiencies, and certain medications.

After the trigger, more hairs enter the resting phase. They initially remain in the scalp and are generally shed only two to four months later.

Intense or prolonged stress may be a possible trigger, but other physical, hormonal, or nutrition-related causes should also be considered.

Factors may include iron deficiency, insufficient protein intake, and severe dietary restriction. Supplements are only specifically worthwhile when a deficiency or risk is plausible.

Never stop a prescribed medication on your own. Discuss the timing and hair loss with the prescribing doctor, who can assess the risks and safe alternatives.

Have persistent or severe hair loss assessed, especially if it occurs without a clear trigger or is accompanied by other symptoms. A medical history, scalp examination, and sometimes blood tests can help.

DISCOVER WHAT SUITS YOUR HAIR LOSS