Bimatoprost, originally for glaucoma, may help reverse stress-related hair loss by extending hair growth cycles. Learn how it works, who benefits, and what alternatives exist.
Telogen Effluvium: Causes, Recovery, 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 hair shedding condition triggered by physical or emotional stress. Also known as stress-induced hair loss, it’s not baldness—it’s your hair cycle getting out of sync. This isn’t rare. About 1 in 3 women and many men experience it after major life events like surgery, childbirth, sudden weight loss, or even intense emotional strain. Your hair doesn’t fall out all at once—it shifts into a resting phase, then sheds over weeks or months. It’s alarming, but almost always reversible.
What triggers it? Common causes include thyroid disorders, a hormonal imbalance that disrupts the hair growth cycle, iron deficiency, low iron stores that starve hair follicles, and certain medications like blood pressure pills or antidepressants. Even a high fever or severe infection can set it off. The key is that it’s not your scalp or follicles dying—it’s your body pausing hair growth to redirect energy elsewhere. Once the trigger is gone, your hair usually starts growing back in 3 to 6 months. No magic creams or supplements fix it faster. The real fix? Addressing the root cause.
Some people try biotin, collagen, or expensive shampoos, but research doesn’t back most of them for telogen effluvium. What does help? Getting your iron and thyroid levels checked, eating enough protein, and giving your body time to recover. If you lost weight rapidly, slow it down. If you’re stressed, find ways to rest—not just sleep, but real mental recovery. Hair grows about half an inch a month. That means it takes patience. You’re not losing your hair forever—you’re just in a pause button phase.
Below, you’ll find real-world guides on how to spot the difference between normal shedding and something serious, what blood tests actually matter, how medications like birth control or antidepressants can trigger this, and how to rebuild your hair health from the inside out. These aren’t fluff pieces—they’re practical, evidence-based reads from people who’ve been through it and figured out what works.