Diagnosis and Treatments for Anagen Effluvium

Anagen Effluvium is a significant loss of hairshafts in their Anagen phase and the onset may be rapid within 2 - 4 weeks. Extensive of hair loss is most often seen in people and occasionally appeared alopecia areata. Hair regrows is spontaneously, once the treatment has ended, hair growth is restored around 6 months later.

hair loss

Cause of Anagen Effluvium

The two most common causes of anagen effluvium occur from cancer chemotherapy and from radiation therapy. Most anticancer drugs are toxic to the hair follicles, and will cause the hair to fall out. There are many potential causes of anagen effluvium. More common causes are listed below :

  • Cancer chemotherapy and radiation therapy
  • Nutrient deficiencies- Extreme deficiency of copper, iron, zinc, biotin, essential fatty acids, or vitamin C in the diet may lead to anagen effluvium
  • Thyroid gland defects(hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism)
  • Genetic hereditary disease, Pollitt's syndrome, Marie Unna type hypotrichosis
  • Hypopituitarism (hypopituitary dwarfism, Simmond's disease, Sheehan's syndrome)
  • Oral contraceptives
  • Vitamin A poisoning

Difference From Anagen Effluvium And Telogen Effluvium

  • Anagen Effluvium: In an anagen effluvium, hair loss occurs because the hair shafts are broken rather than shed. The hair loss occurs within days or weeks of the injury to the follicle. An anagen effluvium can involve up to 90% of the hair on the head, it has the potential to cause almost complete alopecia.
  • Telogen Effluvium: In a Telogen Effluvium, the hairs that are shed have a characteristic club shape with unpigmented proximal ends. Hair loss occurs 3 to 4 months after the systemic insult. It rarely involves more than 50% of the hair on the head. Diagnosis Treatments Acute Aswell Telogen Effluvium

Treatments for Anagen Effluvium

  • The best way to treat Anagen Effluvium by locating the source of the trigger.
    If the reasons of Anagen Effluvium such as chemotherapeutic or radiation are discontinued, regrowth of hair can be expected within weeks spontaneously, Hair that grows back may show a change in the texture and color. These changes may persist for years.
  • The second way to treat Anagen Effluvium is Rogaine
    Topical minoxidil (Rogaine) has been shown to shorten the duration of hair loss due to chemotherapy and/or radiation by approximately 50 days, but it is unable to prevent hair loss due to cancer chemotherapy or radiation therapy.