What should you know about hair loss telogen phase?

Each follicle moves through growth, transition and rest before releasing a hair and beginning again. During telogen, the follicle is resting rather than actively lengthening the hair shaft. If many follicles enter this phase around the same time, shedding can become visible later, often after an illness, fever, operation, major stress, nutritional change or hormonal event. The timing can make the trigger easy to miss. Diffuse shedding fits this pattern more closely than sharply outlined bald patches, scaling or inflamed skin.

Keep a simple record of shedding, recent health events, diet changes and new medicines. Use gentle washing and combing, avoid tight styles that pull at the roots and maintain regular meals with enough protein and varied nutrients. Do not start several supplements at once without advice. An examination can distinguish telogen shedding from Male Pattern Hair Loss, Female Pattern Hair Loss, Alopecia Areata, Scalp Ringworm or Traction Alopecia. Treatment is guided by the cause rather than the phase name alone.

Book a review if shedding is persistent, severe, recurrent or accompanied by visible thinning. Seek prompt care for pain, redness, thick scale, pus, scarring, broken hairs, sharply defined patches or loss of eyebrows. These signs can point away from uncomplicated telogen shedding and may need specific treatment. A review is also appropriate when hair change occurs with fatigue, weight change or other new symptoms.

Does my pattern look diffuse or patchy? Could a recent illness, stressor, diet or medicine have shifted the cycle? What findings would suggest another diagnosis? Do I need tests? How should I care for my hair while shedding continues? When should we check progress?