Telogen Effluvium (Physiologic Shedding)
Mainly seen in women, this type of hair loss is typically related to an underlying cause versus genetics. An excessive number of hair follicles can suddenly stop growing due to pregnancy, illness or surgery. It can also be caused by hormonal shifts, anemia or a thyroid imbalance.

Does anyone what can regrow hair loss due to hair follicles stopage, after a ten year illness, several surgery procedures followed by anemia?????

I have been pregnant 3 times now and everytime my hair got THICKER not thinner. This article seems to not have all their facts straight. Maybe the writers should research a little more before they write an article to inform people, so people don't think they know all the important facts because this one obviously won't give it to you.

Iodine made my hair loss stop. I had been losing it for over 10 years and even B vitamins, stress reduction, and weight loss weren't helping me. Less than week after I started taking iodine supplementally, my hair loss stopped. The baby hairs around my face are growing back (2 inches long now) and I had been missing those since I was a teenager. My thyroid levels are normal again and I feel so much better. I can get up earlier and I have energy, I don't feel like I have lead weights on my feet anymore. Why don't they bring up how starved we are of iodine in the western world, too? Nope, just deny it instead. It's not just a 3rd world issue and I am living proof. I would probably be bald at 50 if I hadn't started the iodine.

hi rhonda,
with that type of hair loss, your hair does have a good chance of regrowing. take care of yourself with eating healthy, moderate exercise, and some patience and you hopefully should see your hair come back. good luck - glad you're healthy again!

How do you KNOW that the MAIN reason for hair loss is decrease in hormone production. There seems to be a lot of controversy over this subjest and to suggest without a doubt that reduction in hormones is the MAIN reason is absurd. Unless of course you have proof. For me is was lack of iron.

I feel as though I see a lot of black women today with almost no hair and hair weaves. I am so sad about this. I dont think it was this way around 15 years ago. I believe there must be some stronger element in the relaxers these days. Black women I used to know had full heads of hair and were even getting jheri curls. Today it seems that black women start out in life getting relaxers and are soon left with almost no hair and choose waeves or wigs to get their look back. The weaves are beautiful yet it is still sad and a wonder that all these girls are left with no hair possibly due to strong chemical treatments. You are often told in the hair dresser that you must come every two weeks or your hair will shed. I think maybe these frequent visits and touch up chemical treatments may be actually thinning womens hair.

I just started taking this stuff [www.hairgenesis.com] and hope it works. So far so good. My hairstylist turned me on to it after she found a research study ran by the university at albany in New York. I also strongly believe in holistic lifestyle. No more drug fed cow for me thank you very much! And I meditate and it calms me. I know that sounds very new agey but the truth is it works. I have fewer wrinkles and I don't feel like murdering my boss every single day of my life.

I've seen that Wen product on TV a lot. Melissa Gilbert from Little House on the Prairie swears by it. Of course, she has great hair to begin with, but they showed her when she used regular shampoo, versus the Wen, and there was a difference.

The key is to use sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners. It's as simple as that. Sulfates strip the hair, which weakens it over time. I have very fine, thin hair, so I know! You can also use L'oreal's Sulfate Free system, or Renpure Organics, which is what I use now. It is free from parabens, sulfates, dyes and colors. You can get it for a little over $5 at Marc's or other common chains. They also have (currently, anyway) a mail-in rebate to try it for free, so whatdya got to lose?

Vitamin-wise, my mother has been taking flaxseed oil, and she said her hair feels fuller and has been turning out better when she styles it. Something to try.

How can you write an article about women's hair loss and not mention THYROID when upwards of 80% of female hair loss is due to thyroid problems????? If you are a woman and are loosing your hair, go directly to a reputable ENDOCRONOLOGIST!!! Skip the primary care physician, the OB/GYN and the dermatologists (Dr. Reed) as they can test for thyroid but they do not know how to interpret the test results. I know because all of them tested my thyroid and said it was fine. The endocronologist is the only one who can test and interpret thyroid numbers. After two years of running around to all of these doctors who all tested my thyroid and said it was "fine", I finally found my way to an endocronologist who diagnosed me with hypothyroidism, put me on medication and my hair loss stopped.

Yes, see your doctor so he can prescribe something that won't work, but improves the bottom line for the pharmecuticle companies and the doctors............thank you for your useless article. AOL, how bout hiring real writers.9 out of 10 of your articles are BS

Linda: I am delighted to see that someone else picked up that this article misses the main point that the vast majority of women suffering from hair loss is because of THYROID!!!! What is going on that this is not mentioned? It's difficult enough to get a diagnosis but with articles like this failing to mention thyroid, no wonder so many people are suffering needlessly due to undiagnosed thyroid! This article is perpetuating the suffering!!!

This is crap.. I believe the main reason for hair loss is the CHEMICALS in water and shampoo. Use a natural shampoo and get a GOOD water filter. Witness the difference. Stop listening to liars.

mY HAIR IS so thin and split ever since I had my kids it fell out a lot too after nursing etc.. i take vitamins off and on for awhile.... my youngest is now 6. I just cut my hair short and hoping this helps.. I hate it. I have tried wen didn't notice much difference except less frizz.so I stopped using it..and use other natural shampoos and had blood checked to see if everything is normal levels and it is.. went to a dermatologist too to check scalp... I think its the worst thing ever to not have attractive hair..it prevents me from going out. if anyone can relate please let me know. THanks

I started losing my hair in May. My doctor sent me to a dematologist who said I had Telegenia Effluvium and gave me topical medicine to put on my scalp. I did this for two weeks with little improvement. I realized that I started taking a new medicine to lower my cholesterol called, Pravastain and researched both online and with my pharmacist, to discover that hair loss is indeed, a possible side effect of this drug. I stopped taking it on a Wednesday and by Friday, could feel a remarkable difference in my scalp. It has almost been a week and my hair loss has lessoned, I'd say about 90% so far. I am so happy. My hair was rapidly, falling out and I just knew it had to be something, more than just some shock to my system or nerves. Check and recheck, all your medicines to be sure, their side effects are not causing your hair to fall out. I wish I had discovered this, months, ago.

Doctors do not study hair loss. I have been a masterhairdresser for 30 years. If you are experiencing hair loss or thinning hair go the your drugstore and purchase BIOTIN! take one with each meal. Within 6 weeks you will not only see a difference in the quality of your hair, but your fingernails as well.I promise.

My hair has become very thin from my seizure meds. Any suggestions?

On a recent physical with my M.D., she said I was Vit. D deficient and put me on a prescription of 1500u (once a week) for 3 months, then told me to take 1000u per day. I do. Then I noticed all these tiny little hairs growing in all around my hairline. Months later, my hairline is back and growing. My eyebrows and lashes are also thicker and they are black! I couldn't figure out what I was doing right.
THEN, Good Housekeeping magazine published an article abour female hair loss and one of the conclusions (and you know they tell the truth/they're pretty strict about their testing) said that it had recently been shown that Vit. D supplements have been shown to restore hair growth.
Go figure! I was worried about bone loss and osteoporosis. Now I have new hair.

In my 40's I started losing my hair, at 1st I didn't realize it, but my vacuum cleaner got clogged 1 day & I took it apart & it was full of my hair!! My hair didn't grow in length for years, also. I went to 4 doctors, my family doctor, my allergist, dermatologist & my gynologist. 1 suggested that I could have cancer & tested me, 1 said I was fine & my dermatologist did a biopsy of my scalp & told me that I had 1 spot of alopecia & 2 get a thyroid test & get tested for any vitamin defficiencies. My family doctor found out that I do have a throid problem & I was anemic because of my heavy periods. In my 50's my thick hair returned luckily because of the meds. But it REALLY started growing after I had a hysterectomy. My hair is down my back now for the 1st time in 10 years. I also have highlighted my hair for over 30 years. I no longer am anemic or take iron pills, but I still am on synthroid. My suggestion is if 1 doctor doesn't find a problem, keep looking 4 the right one & no one ever suggested a throid test or vitamin test to me before. Ask your doctor to do 1 & rule that out. It's only a simple blood test.