A Quick Breakdown of Anagen Effluvium
To make it easier for you to understand how Anagen Effluvium develops, you first need to understand how your hair growth cycle works.
There are four phases involved in your hair growth cycle, with the first phase known as the anagen or growing phase. During this phase, the cells of your hair bulb divide rapidly, causing new hair growth.
Anagen Effluvium develops when there’s a serious injury to the hair follicles either by an internal or external cause. And this can lead to sudden shedding of most --if not all -- of your hair.
What Causes Anagen Effluvium?
Anagen Effluvium is triggered by infections, drugs, toxins, or autoimmune diseases that interrupt hair growth.
These interruptions are also caused due to toxicity gotten from high doses of chemotherapy agents (for treating cancer patients).
In the case of chemotherapy, this condition can cause hair loss within 2-4 weeks of the treatment.
How Can You Detect the Condition?
Detecting if you’re at risk of Anagen Effluvium involves checking your medical history, recent medications you’ve used, examining your scalp, and your lifestyle/nutrition habits.
The thing is…the hair you shed/lose, due to anagen effluvium, is usually thinned out or uneven.
Anagen hairs have long roots that are pigmented and covered with the inner and outer root sheaths. But your follicular openings remain intact.
Here’s How You Can Deal with Anagen Effluvium
If you triggered the Anagen effluvium condition because you’re undergoing chemotherapy, your hair should recover fully within 3 – 6 months of stopping it.
Your hair will grow back normally but there’s a likelihood that you could grow back curly hair (even if you used to have straight hair] and your hair color might change as well.
Feel you’re at risk of Anagen Effluvium or need expert help in dealing with its distress? No problem. Book an appointment with us today.
