Hair loss conditions Affects men and women
Telogen effluvium: sudden shedding, triggers and recovery
Telogen effluvium is a temporary type of hair shedding in which many hairs move into the resting phase at once, usually after a trigger such as illness, stress, surgery, childbirth or a crash diet. The shedding typically starts around 3 months after the trigger, comes from all over the scalp, and usually gets better without treatment.
What is telogen effluvium?
Hair grows in cycles. The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) explains that around 85% of scalp follicles are actively growing at any time (the anagen phase), while around 15% are resting and getting ready to shed (the telogen phase). A resting follicle stops growing for two to four months, then a new hair begins to grow and pushes the old one out. The hair growth cycle glossary entry explains this in more detail.
Losing some hair every day is normal. The BAD says most people lose between 30 and 150 scalp hairs a day; the NHS gives a typical range of 50 to 100. In telogen effluvium, physical or mental stress on the body pushes far more follicles into the resting phase, so that 30% or more may be shedding instead of the usual 15%. Because the hairs rest before they fall, the shedding usually starts suddenly, around 3 months after the trigger.
Telogen effluvium affects all age groups and men and women equally, and it does not run in families. The BAD notes that for 1 in 3 people diagnosed with it, no cause is ever found.
It thins hair evenly rather than causing bald patches, and it is very unusual for it to be severe enough to need a wig. Sometimes it happens alongside pattern hair loss, and the BAD notes it can lead to an earlier diagnosis of female pattern hair loss or male pattern hair loss.
Signs to look for
- A sudden increase in hair on your brush, in the shower drain or on your pillow
- Shedding from all over the scalp, rather than from one area or in patches
- Less volume overall, without bald spots
- Shedding that began a few months after an illness, operation, birth, major stress, big diet change or new medicine
- Sometimes, scalp tenderness or altered sensation (trichodynia)
What causes it
Childbirth
One of the most common triggers. See postpartum hair loss.
Illness or high fever
Severe trauma or illness, especially with a high fever, can trigger shedding a few months later.
Stress and major life events
Stressful or major life events are a recognised trigger, alongside physical stress on the body.
Surgery
Surgical procedures can trigger a shedding phase.
Weight loss and extreme dieting
Marked weight loss and crash diets are common triggers.
Medicines and hormones
Starting a new medicine, or stopping a hormone treatment such as the contraceptive pill, can set it off. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without speaking to your prescriber.
Iron deficiency and thyroid problems
Both cause shedding and are checked with a blood test. The BAD notes telogen effluvium can recur if an underlying cause such as iron deficiency is not treated.
How it is diagnosed
A diagnosis is usually made by looking at the scalp and taking a medical history, especially anything that happened 2 to 4 months before the shedding began. A doctor may do a hair pull test, gently pulling on the hair to see whether more comes out than usual; the BAD notes this can give a falsely normal result if you washed your hair in the previous 48 hours.
Hairs can be examined under a microscope, and very rarely a skin biopsy is needed when the diagnosis is uncertain. A blood test may be done to exclude other causes such as thyroid conditions and iron deficiency.
WMG Health's pages on hair shedding, stress-related hair loss and post-COVID hair loss explain which tests are useful for each situation.
Treatment options
Every option below has trade-offs, and choosing not to treat is a reasonable decision too. Medicines are only prescribed after a doctor has reviewed your history and confirmed they are suitable for you.
What to expect
The BAD says the shedding phase usually lasts 3 to 6 months. After this, new hair starts to grow, though it may take many months for your hair to return to its normal volume and thickness. Because the regrowth starts at the root, the change is gradual.
Telogen effluvium is called chronic (long term) if it lasts more than 6 months. That is a reason to go back to your GP, check again for an underlying cause, and consider whether pattern hair loss is also involved.
It can happen again if a new trigger comes along, or if an underlying cause such as iron deficiency is not treated.
When to see a doctor promptly
See your GP soon, rather than waiting or self-treating, if you notice any of these:
- Shedding that is still heavy more than 6 months after it started
- Bald patches, or loss of eyebrows or eyelashes
- A red, scaly, painful or burning scalp, or areas that look smooth and shiny
- Thinning on top or a receding hairline that remains after the shedding has stopped
- Tiredness, shortness of breath, palpitations, feeling cold or unexplained weight change
How WMG Meds can help
WMG Meds does not treat telogen effluvium itself with medication, because the evidence says it usually recovers on its own and medicine does not speed that up. If you complete our assessment and your answers point to telogen effluvium, the doctor will tell you that honestly.
What helps most is finding the trigger. Your GP can arrange blood tests, or our sister clinic WMG Health offers the Hair Loss Essentials panel.
Where we can sometimes help is when shedding reveals, or happens alongside, pattern hair loss. If thinning on top or at the hairline remains after the shedding settles, a GMC-registered doctor can assess whether treatment for pattern hair loss is appropriate. See what happens in an online consultation.
Frequently asked questions
How long does telogen effluvium last?
The BAD says the shedding phase lasts 3 to 6 months, after which new hair starts to grow. It can take many more months for hair to look as full as before. If shedding lasts longer than 6 months, it is called chronic telogen effluvium and is worth reviewing with your GP.
Can stress make your hair fall out?
Yes. The BAD lists stressful or major life events among the common triggers of telogen effluvium. The shedding usually starts around 3 months after the stressful period, which is why the link is often missed. WMG Health's page on stress-related hair loss explains the tests worth considering.
Will minoxidil stop telogen effluvium?
There is no good reason to expect it to. The BAD says taking medication does not speed up regrowth in telogen effluvium, which usually recovers on its own. Minoxidil may be considered if a doctor finds pattern hair loss as well.
How much hair loss a day is normal?
The BAD says most people lose between 30 and 150 scalp hairs every day, and the NHS gives a typical range of 50 to 100. New hairs replace them, so the total stays about the same. A sudden, sustained increase is what suggests telogen effluvium.
Which blood tests should I have?
The BAD says blood tests are used to exclude other causes, particularly thyroid conditions and iron deficiency. Many doctors also check vitamin B12, folate and vitamin D. Your GP can arrange these, or you can book a private panel such as WMG Health's Hair Loss Essentials.
Can telogen effluvium turn into permanent hair loss?
It usually gets completely better. However, the BAD notes it can happen at the same time as pattern hair loss, and sometimes leads to pattern hair loss being diagnosed earlier. If your hair does not recover after the shedding stops, ask for an assessment.
Sources
- British Association of Dermatologists: Telogen effluvium, patient leaflet (October 2025)
- NHS: Hair loss
- NHS: Iron deficiency anaemia
- Regaine for Women Once a Day Scalp Foam 5% w/w: Summary of Product Characteristics (eMC)
Facts checked against these sources on 4 October 2026. This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Read our editorial policy.