TWO COMMON FORMS OF HAIR LOSS

Androgenetic alopecia vs. telogen effluvium

Androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium can both cause hair thinning, but differ in biological process, pattern, timing, and expected course. Read which signals help distinguish hereditary pattern hair loss from temporary diffuse loss.

Briefly summarized

Androgenetic alopecia is hereditary and usually progresses slowly following a recognizable pattern.
Telogen effluvium often develops a few months after a physical or emotional trigger and results in diffuse shedding.
In androgenetic alopecia, sensitive hair follicles miniaturize; in telogen effluvium, more hairs temporarily enter the resting and shedding phase simultaneously.
Telogen effluvium often recovers after the trigger has passed or is addressed; androgenetic alopecia is generally progressive.
The two forms can occur simultaneously, making professional assessment sometimes necessary.

DIFFERENT BIOLOGICAL PROCESS

What happens in the hair follicle?

In androgenetic alopecia, certain hair follicles are genetically sensitive to androgens, including DHT. During successive growth cycles, these hair follicles gradually become smaller and produce shorter, finer hairs. This process is called follicular miniaturisation.

In telogen effluvium, the hair follicles usually remain intact. Due to a physical or emotional trigger, more hairs than usual temporarily shift from the growth phase into the resting and shedding phase. The hair follicles can then produce hair again once the cycle is restored.

RECOGNISE PATTERNS

Is the hair loss pattern-related or diffuse?

Androgenetic alopecia often follows a recognizable pattern. Men usually notice receding temples, a changing hairline, or thinning at the crown. In women, the central part often widens and density gradually decreases on top of the head.

With telogen effluvium, hair loss is generally spread across a large part of the scalp. It usually does not create sharply defined bald patches. The hair may feel less full everywhere, while the hairline is usually preserved.

View the different types of hair loss

Is the hair loss pattern-related or diffuse?

BEN AND DURE

When does hair loss begin, and how does it progress?

Androgenetic alopecia usually develops slowly over months to years. The pattern gradually becomes more noticeable and may continue to worsen without appropriate treatment.

Telogen effluvium often begins only two to three months after a trigger, such as illness, fever, surgery, childbirth, severe stress, rapid weight loss, or a nutritional deficiency. In an acute form, the increased shedding often lasts for several months and then gradually decreases.

COMBINATION POSSIBLE

Can both forms occur at the same time?

Yes. Someone with early androgenetic alopecia can also develop telogen effluvium after a trigger. The sudden diffuse shedding can make pre-existing pattern-related thinning visible more quickly.

When the temporary shedding decreases, some of the density may recover while the underlying pattern of androgenetic alopecia remains visible. Therefore, it is important to assess the timing, the pattern of thinning, and differences in hair diameter.

Read about chronic telogen effluvium

DIAGNOSE AND INVESTIGATE

How are the two forms distinguished?

A doctor or dermatologist looks at the onset, possible triggers, pattern, family history, and scalp. Dermoscopy can reveal differences in hair diameter and other signs of miniaturisation. With diffuse hair loss, additional blood tests may be appropriate to investigate, for example, iron deficiency or a thyroid problem.

The right diagnosis determines which approach makes sense. Telogen effluvium mainly requires attention to the possible trigger and time for recovery. For androgenetic alopecia, medical treatment options can be discussed. Nutritional supplements do not treat either condition, but they can support the hair’s normal condition.

Important to know

The number of hairs in the shower or on the brush is not sufficient to determine the cause. A wider parting can also become more noticeable due to both diffuse shedding and pattern hair loss. Have rapid, persistent, or unexplained hair loss assessed, especially in the presence of bald spots, pain, redness, scaling, or other physical complaints.

Questions about androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium

Androgenetic alopecia usually causes gradual, pattern-related thinning due to follicular miniaturisation. Telogen effluvium generally causes temporary diffuse hair loss because, following a trigger, more hairs enter the resting and shedding phases at the same time.

Yes. Telogen effluvium can occur in someone who is already predisposed to androgenetic alopecia. The temporary diffuse hair loss can make the existing pattern thinning visible sooner.

Acute telogen effluvium is usually temporary once the trigger has passed or is addressed. Androgenetic alopecia is generally progressive and does not go away on its own.

In an acute form, the increased hair loss often lasts for several months. After that, the hair loss usually gradually decreases, but visible recovery in density and length takes longer because hair grows slowly.

Blood tests can help identify possible triggers of diffuse hair loss, such as iron deficiency or a thyroid disorder, but they do not directly diagnose androgenetic alopecia. The pattern and examination of the hair and scalp remain important.

Have hair loss assessed if it persists for more than a few months, worsens rapidly, follows a pattern, or is accompanied by bald patches, itching, redness, scaling, pain, or other physical symptoms.

FIND WHAT SUITS YOU

Not sure which pattern matches your hair loss?

The TRIX Hair Check helps you better identify the characteristics of your hair loss and shows which TRIX Basic products may be suitable for you. The Hair Check does not provide a medical diagnosis. TRIX Basic Alpha and Beta support normal hair condition, but do not treat androgenetic alopecia or telogen effluvium.

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