Thyroid disorders can quietly affect multiple bodily functions, one of which is the normal thyroid hormone levels in the body. One symptom of this imbalance is thyroid hair loss. When you are aware of the signs of a thyroid disorder, you can get the right tests done and receive the right treatment for thyroid hair loss. The two main thyroid disorders are hyperthyroidism, excess secretion of thyroid hormones, and hypothyroidism, insufficient secretion of thyroid hormones. Each of these disorders comes with its own set of symptoms and requires different treatment approaches.

It is also important to remember that someone experiencing anagen effluvium could be having a difficult time due to the excessive hair loss. The right support and even counselling could go a long way toward keeping spirits up and helping overcome distress. In this article, we will take a closer look at the causes of anagen effluvium, its symptoms, and treatment. Armed with this awareness, you will already be on the right track to manage this condition effectively.  

Anagen is the first stage of the hair growth cycle, when hair is actively growing. Ideally, hair at this stage does not fall out and continues to grow until it enters the resting stage. There are times, however, when internal or external factors can disrupt hair growth and cause hair to start falling. This condition, known as anagen effluvium, can be very upsetting for the person experiencing it. However, with the right diagnosis and treatment, the condition can be managed and even reversed completely. Keep reading to learn more about anagen effluvium hair loss. 

What is anagen effluvium?

Anagen effluvium is hair loss that takes place during the anagen stage of the hair growth cycle due to certain factors that damage the hair follicles. During this stage, hair is supposed to be actively growing. But external factors like chemotherapy and radiation for cancer and toxins, or internal factors like autoimmune disease or deficiencies, can disrupt the cycle.

The hair growth cycle includes four stages: anagen, catagen, telogen and exogen. During the anagen stage, hair actively grows up to 1 centimetre a month. This stage typically lasts from 2-8 years. Under normal circumstances, about 90% of scalp hair is in the anagen stage. Therefore, if something were to trigger anagen effluvium, the majority of hair that is supposed to be growing starts to fall out. 

The hair loss may be gradual or in clumps and generally takes a few weeks to be noticeable. Anagen effluvium symptoms will continue for as long as the underlying cause is present. The good news is that once the cause is removed, the hair loss is completely reversible. And while anagen effluvium can be daunting, it is important to stay hopeful, knowing that your hair will grow back eventually.

What are the anagen effluvium causes?

A triggering event, like chemo and radiation therapy, heavy metal poisoning, nutrient deficiencies, autoimmune disease, and certain medications, can damage follicles, causing anagen effluvium. During anagen effluvium, hair follicles become inflamed in response to these triggers, rendering them unable to function. Without the hair follicles to support them, hairs start to fall out. In most cases, damage to hair follicles is not permanent, and they can recover once the trigger is removed. Now, let us understand in more detail why this anagen effluvium causes damage tto he hair follicles.

Why does anagen effluvium occur?

Anagen effluvium occurs because any external or internal trigger disrupts the normal hair growth cycle. Treatments like chemotherapy and radiation prevent cell division. While this is useful in treating cancer to stop tumour growth, other dividing cells in the body are also affected, including the cells within the hair follicle that promote hair growth. Certain toxins, heavy metal poisoning, and infections can also damage hair follicle cells, preventing hair from growing. This also occurs in cases of chronic illness and inadequate dietary protein intake. 

Autoimmune diseases in which the body’s immune system attacks hair follicle cells also result in anagen effluvium. While most of these causes tend to affect all hair on the scalp, some infections may affect only a specific area of the scalp, resulting in partial anagen effluvium and baldness. 

How is anagen effluvium diagnosed?

An anagen effluvium diagnosis needs to be done by your doctor. Therefore, if you suspect that something might be triggering unnatural hair loss, it is best to visit your doctor as early as possible. As you may know, there can be several causes of hair loss. When determining whether hair loss is specifically due to anagen effluvium, medical professionals must look for certain characteristics. 

These include:

• Medical history - One of the first questions patients are asked is whether they are suffering from any illness or undergoing any treatment. Doctors will also ask patients about their daily diet, changes in diet or lifestyle, stress levels and so on.
• External examination - When you visit a doctor for hair loss, the doctor will examine your scalp and observe the pattern of hair loss. Anagen effluvium is characterised by thinning and balding of the scalp, as well as hair loss throughout the body. The doctor will also check for rashes, skin irritation, or an infection affecting only one or a few areas of the scalp, not the whole scalp.
• Hair examination - Hairs that fall off because of anagen effluvium have an elongated hair root. This shows that the root was still attached to the follicle and was in the anagen (growing) stage when the hair began to fall out. Hair in other stages of the growth cycle has roots that are rounder or clubbed.
• Medical tests - And finally, the doctor might also ask you to get some tests done to check for infections, toxins or even autoimmune diseases. 

Based on all the information obtained from the investigation into the cause of hair loss, the doctor will be able to confirm a diagnosis of anagen effluvium.

What is the emotional effect of anagen effluvium?

Your hair is a part of you. You style it to your liking; keep it short or let it grow, and try different colours and haircuts. However, sudden hair loss can be shocking and traumatic. This is especially true in anagen effluvium when large amounts of hair start to fall out, and the thinning and balding are immediately noticeable. 

The traumatic effect of anagen effluvium affects both men and women and can even lead to depression, social anxiety, and isolation. It is therefore important that patients receive the right guidance and support during this difficult time.

First and foremost, after an anagen effluvium diagnosis, patients need to remember that this is a temporary and reversible condition. The lost hair will start to grow back as soon as the trigger is removed. 

Aside from awareness, patients might also benefit from counselling and can talk to a qualified therapist. What is most important is that the patient's caregivers, family, and friends be as supportive as possible. 

No one should dismiss what the patient is experiencing or say they are overreacting, as the hair loss is only temporary. One must remember that this can be a very scary time for the patient, and there might always be the lingering thought, “What if my hair never grows back?”

How is anagen effluvium treated?

There is no active treatment for anagen effluvium yet. But because the condition is a side effect of another condition and can be reversed, there is no real need to treat it directly. Chemotherapy and radiation patients will regain hair growth once treatment is stopped. Removal of toxins and treatment of infections will also help to restore hair growth. Anagen effluvium caused by nutrient deficiencies can be easily corrected with dietary improvements. 

However, because hair loss can be traumatic for patients, measures such as keeping scalp temperature below 24°C may help control hair loss during chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Topical treatments to treat infections and rashes, as well as antibiotics. can eliminate the cause of anagen effluvium, thereby restoring hair growth.

New hair growth can be aided by applying minoxidil solution to the affected areas. Patients can also be encouraged to follow a protein-rich diet and take Traya's hair growth supplement to support healthy hair regrowth. 

Furthermore, during hair loss, patients can use a wig, hat or bandana. It can also be a fun way to try a new look, experiment with wigs of different colours and styles, or have hats and scarves to match various outfits. Adding a little fun to the activity can also help to relieve some of the emotional distress the patient might be experiencing. Most people with anagen effluvium start to see their hair grow back within 3-6 months after removing the cause. Therefore, this temporary condition can be gradually fully reversed.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How fast does the hair fall during anagen effluvium?

Hair fall generally begins around two weeks after the triggering conditions. Once hair fall starts, it can be rapid, and the hair can fall out in clumps. Balding can be noticed within a few days of tair loss. 

2. Is there a chance that anagen effluvium can be permanent?

In most cases, anagen effluvium is not permanent. Hair growth is usually completely restored within 3-6 months after the cause is removed. There are, however, very rare cases where the cells in the hair follicles suffer extensive damage and may not be able to regenerate. This might happen to just a few follicles, resulting in thinner hair growth, or it could be more extensive. In case your hair doesn’t grow back a whole year after treatment, please consult with your doctor, who could advise further tests and prescribe the relevant treatments.

3. Does the hair look different when it grows back after anagen effluvium?

In most cases, your hair will grow back as it was earlier. There have been cases, however, where hair was previously curly and has grown back straight, and vice versa. Sometimes hair can grow back thicker or thinner than before, and in some cases, it might have turned grey. 

4. Can anagen effluvium be prevented during chemo and radiation therapy?

The research is still ongoing, but so far, there is no way to prevent anagen effluvium during chemo or radiation therapy. Keeping scalp temperature below 24°C might help reduce the side effects of the therapies, but it hisn’t100% effective. Other experimental methods, like tying a tourniquet around the head to reduce blood flow, have also failed to yield positive results. 

5. How are anagen effluvium and telogen effluvium different?

The hair growth cycle includes four stages: anagen, catagen, telogen and exogen. Hair loss that occurs during the anagen stage is called anagen effluvium, while hair loss that occurs during the telogen stage is called telogen effluvium. Anagen effluvium occurs when hair is actively growing and results in widespread hair fall, thinning and even balding. During the telogen stage, hair is in a resting phase, and the hair loss that occurs at this time is termed shedding and is not as intense as anagen effluvium.     

References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482293/
2. https://www.longdom.org/open-access-pdfs/causes-and-treatment-of-anagen-effluvium.pdf 
3. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/minoxidil-solution
4. https://ijdvl.com/anagen-effluvium/

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