Preview

Meditsinskiy sovet = Medical Council

Advanced search

Diffuse telogen effluvium: Etiology, pathogenesis, and a comprehensive approach to treatment

https://doi.org/10.21518/ms2025-063

Abstract

Diffuse telogen alopecia is a common condition characterized by temporary hair loss due to the premature transition of hair follicles into the telogen phase. This article examines the key etiological factors, pathogenetic mechanisms, and modern approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. Diffuse telogen alopecia can develop as a result of physiological processes such as pregnancy and the postpartum period, as well as due to pathological conditions. Special attention is given to the impact of stress factors, infectious diseases, endocrine dysfunctions, severe systemic illnesses, metabolic disorders, micronutrient deficiencies, and adverse drug reactions on the onset and progression of this condition. Identifying triggering factors is crucial for determining an effective treatment strategy. The diagnosis of diffuse telogen alopecia requires a comprehensive approach, including a detailed medical history, clinical examination, trichoscopy, and laboratory investigations aimed at identifying potential causes of hair loss. The treatment of diffuse telogen alopecia is multidisciplinary and focuses on eliminating the primary causative factor, normalizing metabolic processes, regulating the nervous and endocrine systems, improving scalp microcirculation, and stimulating hair growth. This article discusses the application of a therapeutic system consisting of specialized cosmetic products and a pharmaceutical preparation containing active natural ingredients that contribute to achieving stable therapeutic results. The composition of these agents and their pharmacodynamic mechanisms for enhancing scalp microcirculation and restoring the metabolic activity of hair follicles are analyzed in detail. The effectiveness of a comprehensive treatment approach is demonstrated through a clinical case of successful management of post-infectious diffuse telogen alopecia in a 10-year-old boy.

About the Authors

О. В. Tamrazova
Bashlyaeva City Children’s Clinical Hospital; Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba
Russian Federation

Olga B. Tamrazova, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor of the RAS, Head of Pediatric Dermatology Department, Bashlyaeva City Children’s Clinical Hospital; Professor of the Department of Dermatovenerology with a Cosmetology course at the Faculty of Continuing Medical Education of the Medical Institute, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba

28, Geroev Panfilovtsev St., Moscow, 125373,

6, Miklukho-Maklai St., Moscow, 117198



E. A. Glukhova
Federal Research Center of Nutrition and Biotechnology; Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)
Russian Federation

Evgeniia A. Glukhova, Cand. Sci. (Med.), Dermatovenerologist, Federal Research Center of Nutrition and Biotechnology; Dermatovenerologist, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)

2/14, Ustinsky Proezd, Moscow, 109240,

8, Bldg. 2, Trubetskaya St., Moscow, 119048



References

1. Vañó-Galván S, Saceda-Corralo D, Blume-Peytavi U, Cucchía J, Dlova NC, Gavazzoni Dias MFR et al. Frequency of the Types of Alopecia at TwentyTwo Specialist Hair Clinics: A Multicenter Study. Skin Appendage Disord. 2019;5(5):309–315. https://doi.org/10.1159/000496708.

2. Asghar F, Shamim N, Farooque U, Sheikh H, Aqeel R. Telogen effluvium: a review of the literature. Cureus. 2020;12(5):e8320. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.8320.

3. Фицпатрик Т, Джонсон Р, Вульф К, Полано М, Сюрмонд Д. Дерматология. Атлас-справочник. М.: Практика; 1999. 1248 с.

4. Malkud S. Telogen Effluvium: A Review. J Clin Diagn Res. 2015;9(9):WE01–WE3. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2015/15219.6492.

5. Saleh D, Nassereddin A, Saleh HM, Cook C. Anagen Effluvium. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482293.

6. Whiting DA. Chronic telogen effluvium. Dermatol Clin. 1996;14(4):723–731. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0733-8635(05)70398-3.

7. Headington JT. Telogen effluvium. New concepts and review. Arch Dermatol. 1993;129(3):356–363. https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.129.3.356.

8. Kunz M, Seifert B, Trüeb RM. Seasonality of hair shedding in healthy women complaining of hair loss. Dermatology. 2009;219(2):105–110. https://doi.org/10.1159/000216832.

9. Samrao A, Mirmirani P. Postpartum Telogen Effluvium Unmasking Traction Alopecia. Skin Appendage Disord. 2022;8(4):328–332. https://doi.org/10.1159/000521705.

10. İbiş S, Aksoy Saraç G, Akdağ T. Evaluation of MCV/RDW Ratio and Correlations With Ferritin in Telogen Effluvium Patients. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2022;12(3):e2022151. https://doi.org/10.5826/dpc.

11. Akyurek FT, Demirbas GU, Demirbas A, Akyurek F, Kurtipek GS. Retrospective evaluation of laboratory data of patients with telogen effluvium. Ann Med Res. 2019;26(12):2754–2757. https://doi.org/10.5826/dpc.1203a151.

12. Zufishan S, Haque Z, Nazar S, Afaq E, Aamir E, Rafique S. Role of zinc in chronic telogen effluvium in serum and hair of patients with alopecia. J Pak Med Assoc. 2024;74(Suppl. 2):S47-S50. https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA-DUHS-S10.

13. Wessels I, Maywald M, Rink L. Zinc as a Gatekeeper of Immune Function. Nutrients. 2017;9(12):1286. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9121286.

14. Smolarczyk K, Meczekalski B, Rudnicka E, Suchta K, Szeliga A. Association of Obesity and Bariatric Surgery on Hair Health. Medicina. 2024;60(2):325. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60020325.

15. Owecka B, Tomaszewska A, Dobrzeniecki K, Owecki M. The Hormonal Background of Hair Loss in Non-Scarring Alopecias. Biomedicines. 2024;12(3):513. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12030513.

16. Hussein RS, Atia T, Bin Dayel S. Impact of Thyroid Dysfunction on Hair Disorders. Cureus. 2023;15(8):e43266. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.43266.

17. Passeron T, Zouboulis CC, Tan J, Andersen ML, Katta R, Lyu X et al. Adult skin acute stress responses to short-term environmental and internal aggression from exposome factors. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2021;35(10):1963–1975. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.17432.

18. Shin H, Choi SJ, Cho AR, Kim DY, Kim KH, Kwon O. Acute Stress-Induced Changes in Follicular Dermal Papilla Cells and Mobilization of Mast Cells: Implications for Hair Growth. Ann Dermatol. 2016;28(5):600–606. https://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2016.28.5.600.

19. Willimann B, Trüeb RM. Hair pain (trichodynia): frequency and relationship to hair loss and patient gender. Dermatology. 2002;205(4):374–377. https://doi.org/10.1159/000066437.

20. Rebora A. Trichodynia: a review of the literature. Int J Dermatol. 2016;55(4):382–384. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.13204.

21. Chávez-Chavira G. Review of the post-COVID-19 syndrome associated to acute telogen effluvium. Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc. 2023;61(4):496–501. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8200471.

22. Iancu GM, Molnar E, Ungureanu L, Șenilă SC, Hașegan A, Rotaru M. SARS-CoV-2 Infection-A Trigger Factor for Telogen Effluvium: Review of the Literature with a Case-Based Guidance for Clinical Evaluation. Life. 2023;13(7):1576. https://doi.org/10.3390/life13071576.

23. Alharbi M. Telogen effluvium after COVID-19 vaccination among public in Saudi Arabia. J Family Med Prim Care. 2022;11(10):6056–6060. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_377_22.

24. Aryanian Z, Balighi K, Hatami P, Afshar ZM, Mohandesi NA. The role of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its vaccines in various types of hair loss. Dermatol Ther. 2022;35(6):e15433. https://doi.org/10.1111/dth.15433.

25. Alhanshali L, Buontempo M, Shapiro J, Lo Sicco K. Medication-induced hair loss: An update. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2023;89(2 Suppl.):S20–S28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2023.04.022.

26. Foitzik K, Spexard T, Nakamura M, Halsner U, Paus R. Towards dissecting the pathogenesis of retinoid-induced hair loss: all-trans retinoic acid induces premature hair follicle regression (catagen) by upregulation of transforming growth factor-beta2 in the dermal papilla. J Invest Dermatol. 2005;124(6):1119–1126. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0022-202X.2005.23686.x

27. Palaniappan V, Karthikeyan K, Anusuya S. Dermatological adverse effects of hair dye use: A narrative review. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2023;27:1–17. https://doi.org/10.25259/IJDVL_745_2022.

28. Kubanov AA, Galliamova IuA, Selezneva OA. Evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of the drug Selencin in combined therapy of alopecia. Farmateka. 2016;16(Suppl. 2):34–42. (In Russ.) Available at: https://pharmateca.ru/ru/archive/article/32672.

29. Batkaev EA, Gallyamova UA. The complex homeopathic drug Selentsin in the treatment of telogen effluvium. Journal of Postgraduate Medical Education. 2002;(3):42–43. (In Russ.)

30. Баткаев ЭА, Галлямова ЮА, Кантимирова ЮА. Гомеопатические препараты в практике дерматолога. М.; 2006. 30 с.

31. Goryachkina VL, Ivanova MYu, Tsomartova DA, Kartashkina NL, Kuznetsov SL, Lomonosov KM, Zaborova VA. Modern concepts on the histophysiology of hair follicles. Russian Journal of Skin and Venereal Diseases. 2015;18(3):51–54. (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.elibrary.ru/twqaah.


Review

For citations:


Tamrazova ОВ, Glukhova EA. Diffuse telogen effluvium: Etiology, pathogenesis, and a comprehensive approach to treatment. Meditsinskiy sovet = Medical Council. 2025;(2):136-142. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21518/ms2025-063

Views: 192


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.


ISSN 2079-701X (Print)
ISSN 2658-5790 (Online)