Telogen Effluvium: Causes, Signs, and What You Can Do

When you notice more hair in your brush, shower drain, or on your pillow than usual, it’s often telogen effluvium, a temporary form of hair loss triggered by physical or emotional stress that pushes hair follicles into a resting phase. Also known as stress-related hair shedding, it’s not baldness—it’s your body’s way of reacting to change, and it usually fixes itself. Unlike genetic hair loss, telogen effluvium doesn’t destroy follicles. It just pauses them. Think of it like your hair hitting pause after a shock—whether that’s surgery, childbirth, rapid weight loss, or even a bad bout of the flu.

This kind of hair loss doesn’t show up right away. It typically hits 2 to 4 months after the trigger. That’s why people often don’t connect the dots—maybe you had a baby six months ago, lost 20 pounds last winter, or went through a tough breakup. Now, your hair is paying the price. hormonal shifts, especially after pregnancy or starting/stopping birth control are common causes. So are nutritional deficiencies, like low iron, zinc, or vitamin D. Even a high fever or severe infection can flip the switch. It’s not your shampoo. It’s not your brush. It’s your body’s internal balance.

The good news? Most cases clear up on their own within 6 to 9 months once the trigger is gone. You won’t go bald. You won’t need surgery. But you do need to figure out what started it. Did you start a new diet? Change meds? Experience burnout? Fixing the root cause is the only real cure. Supplements can help if you’re deficient, but popping random vitamins won’t fix it if the problem is stress or thyroid trouble. That’s why so many people get stuck—trying to treat the hair, not the cause.

In the posts below, you’ll find real cases: how a woman’s hair stopped falling after fixing her iron levels, why a man’s shedding cleared up after switching antidepressants, and what actually works when nothing else does. No fluff. No miracle cures. Just what the science and patient stories show works—and what doesn’t.