Understanding Hair Loss: Telogen Effluvium Recovery Signs

Robin McIntyre • July 2, 2024

Hair loss can be a result of several reasons, from natural causes to medical-related conditions. Regardless, it’s something more common than you think.

Among the different types of hair loss, telogen effluvium is said to be one of the most common diagnoses. According to studies, in about 33% of cases, the cause is unknown. Still, there are possible reasons and expected reactions that imply improvement.

So, what are they, and how do you know the telogen effluvium recovery signs? Let’s delve into that.

What is Telogen Effluvium?

Telogen effluvium is known as one of the most common causes of alopecia or hair loss. Its factors range from psychological to physiological, but in most cases, this condition is temporary.

Anagen or Growth: This refers to the most active stage of hair growth, wherein your hair would stay up to 80% to 90% of the time.

Catagen or Transition: This is the stage where your hair transitions during growth when your hair stops growing. It usually takes up around 5% of the cycle.

Telogen or Resting: This is when your hair follicles become inactive and start a new hair growth cycle. So, you can expect your hair to fall off during this phase.

If you go through chronic telogen effluvium, you are likely to experience hair shedding for over six months. Even so, you can reverse the effects.

Common Causes of Telogen Effluvium

Telogen effluvium can be caused by several factors. Keep in mind that knowing these can help you identify what steps to take to improve your condition. At the same time, it helps you determine if your case is something that requires a change of habits or additional treatment.

Here are some of the most common reasons why it occurs:

High-stress levels: Experiencing prolonged or severe levels of stress can affect the strength of your hair, causing it to easily fall off.

Lack of nutrients: Your hair requires certain nutrients to grow and maintain its strength and grip. A few of these include protein, iron, zinc, vitamin B, and more.

Physical trauma: Severe physical impact on your hair can disrupt its growth cycle, causing your hair to shed off or weaken. This can happen when you go through an accident or tend to pull or add lots of pressure to your hair.

Weight loss: Sudden weight loss or restrictions can lead to hair loss. It also causes you to consume less nutrients, causing your hair to lose what it needs.

Hormonal changes: Hormonal changes are one of the top reasons for hair loss among women. It can start as early as the pregnancy phase and continue until childbirth or postpartum and menopause.

Health conditions: Specific health conditions can affect other parts of your body, including your hair. It’s common for autoimmune diseases to change their growth cycle because it targets your overall health.

Medication effects: Some medications can cause your hair to weaken and become more susceptible to shedding. The same applies to certain treatments or surgeries.

Common Causes of Telogen Effluvium

Not everyone notices the recovery signs of hair loss in an instant. Sometimes, it takes a lot longer than you expect, even after changing habits and receiving treatments.

Despite this, the following are some of the most common telogen effluvium recovery signs:

Hair thickening: When your hair starts to look thicker, either darker or with more volume, it may be a sign that your hair is growing back.

Fewer falling strands: If you spend a while dealing with severe hair loss, it’s easier to notice the amount of shedding when it reduces. In this case, it means your hair is recovering.

More short strands: You might notice several short strands on your scalp. This is a clear sign that your hair is growing back and starting off fresh.

Keep in mind that this sensation is normal but temporary. If it continues beyond two weeks, you may want to consult your doctor about it.

Ways to Maintain Hair Restoration

There are lots of ways you can maintain your hair growth once you start to notice your condition improving. Keep in mind that these can vary based on the initial reason for your hair loss. At the same time, some of these solutions are effective either way.

The following methods are some of the best ways to keep hair restoration consistent:

Hair Treatments

Getting regular hair treatments can help boost how quickly your hair grows back and keep it within that state. An example is getting laser hair therapy or frequent scalp massages.

Better Diet

You can take hair growth supplements if you have trouble adjusting your lifestyle. Moreover, these are a quick and easy way to ensure your hair gets the nutrients it needs to maintain growth and keep its hold on your scalp.

Hair Growth Supplements

Getting regular hair treatments can help boost how quickly your hair grows back and keep it within that state. An example is getting laser hair therapy or frequent scalp massages.

Improved Handling

Sometimes, treating and handling your hair with more care is enough to reduce the impacts of hair loss. With this, your hair can feel better and you can experience less pain or headaches.

Maintain Stress Levels

Stress can affect more than just your emotional well-being. The better you handle your stress, the less likely you will have to deal with its physical impacts, including hair loss.

Hair Transplant

A hair transplant is a method that ensures the restoration of your hair regrowth. It provides you with a long-term solution and gives you the opportunity to increase hair volume in parts that are thinning or completely bald.

In Summary

While telogen effluvium is a common reason for hair loss, it’s best to know more about it. When you understand the causes, you can determine the best way to restore its growth. At the same time, it helps you identify telogen effluvium recovery signs better, allowing you to maintain improvement as much as you can.

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Regain Your Confidence with Hair Restoration – My Personal Journey

February 17, 2025

Like many of my patients, I struggled with hair loss for years. My hair began thinning in high school, and by my 20s, my confidence was at an all-time low. I tried every vitamin and hair loss remedy, and spent countless hours trying to mask my baldness, feeling self-conscious in both personal and professional settings. It wasn’t until my late 30s that I finally took action. After undergoing a successful hair restoration procedure, my life changed dramatically. Within 8 to 12 months, my hair grew back, and with it, my confidence soared. I looked 10 years younger, and I no longer had to rely on time-consuming styling tricks. People treated me differently, and I felt like the best version of myself. That transformation led me to make a major career shift—from a successful Trauma and Cancer Surgeon to a full-time hair restoration specialist. I was double board-certified by the American Board of Surgery in Trauma Surgery & Critical Care Surgery and thriving in my field, but my personal experience with hair loss gave me a new mission. I knew firsthand the emotional toll it takes, and I wanted to help others regain not just their hair, but their self-esteem and quality of life. I initially worked for a large corporate hair restoration group but quickly realized that the best results come from a physician-led practice—where the doctor is personally invested in every patient’s success. That’s why I founded Yates Hair Science Group. We specialize in advanced FUE hair restoration and cutting-edge biologic treatments to achieve the best possible results. Unlike many clinics, I personally perform every procedure—never delegating to technicians or nurses—because hair restoration is both a science and an art. Every patient I treat, whether through surgical or non-surgical solutions, I connect with on a personal level—because I’ve lived their journey. I believe a specialty as life-changing as hair restoration should never be driven by corporate interests focused solely on profit. If you're struggling with hair loss, I understand what you’re going through because I’ve been there myself. Let’s work together to find the right solution for you. Schedule a consultation today and take the first step toward restoring your hair—and your confidence.

Unlicensed Practitioners in Hair Restoration Clinics: A Call for Awareness and Action

December 18, 2024

The public should be aware of an alarming issue within the Chicago area hair restoration industry: unlicensed individuals posing as licensed physicians and performing medical procedures. This deceptive practice jeopardizes patient safety and erodes trust in qualified medical professionals. Recent reports have uncovered that patients seeking treatment at the International Hair Institute (IHI) were led to believe that their procedures were performed by Jing Liu, MD, CEO of the clinic. Upon investigation, it became evident that while Ms. Liu obtained a medical degree in China, she has neither undergone the necessary training nor acquired licensure to practice medicine in the United States. Previously employed as a lab assistant at Northwestern Hospital, she is not listed with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) as a licensed physician. Despite this, Ms. Liu is reportedly presenting herself as an American-licensed physician and performing hair restoration surgeries at IHI. In response to inquiries from discerning patients, Ms. Liu has allegedly claimed the clinic is overseen by a licensed internist, Dr. Wang, who has no known expertise in hair restoration and may not even be present onsite. This deceptive behavior not only endangers patients but also undermines the integrity of the medical profession. Unlike hospital settings—where physicians undergo rigorous vetting and credential verification to ensure they can practice their specialty safely, competently, and ethically—some hair restoration clinics operate with little to no oversight. Many patients remain unaware of the complexity and skill required for hair transplant surgery. As a former board-certified general, cancer, and trauma surgeon, I can attest that hair transplant surgery demands both mental and physical dexterity, as well as extensive training and experience, to achieve safe and excellent outcomes. Illinois law mandates that only a licensed physician may perform procedures involving incisions in the skin. In hair transplant surgery, these include FUT (follicular unit transplantation) linear scalp incisions, FUE (follicular unit extraction) punch graft harvesting, and recipient site creation for follicular grafts. Despite these clear legal guidelines, it appears that many clinics delegate these critical tasks to unqualified medical assistants or non-physician staff, putting patients at unnecessary risk. Such practices insult physicians who have undergone years of rigorous training in accredited medical schools, residency programs, and fellowships. The lack of enforced regulations in the hair restoration industry has enabled this brazen disregard for medical standards to persist. Without proper oversight and accountability, the situation will likely worsen, leaving more patients vulnerable to substandard and unsafe care. This is an urgent call for increased regulatory enforcement and public awareness to protect patients and restore trust in the medical profession.

An Open Letter from Dr. William Yates, MD FACS Unlicensed Hair Transplants: The Hidden Risks You Should Know

December 6, 2024

It’s a well-known fact that nearly 60 million Americans experience hair loss at some point in their lives. Among the many options for restoring the luster of one’s hair, hair transplantation is widely regarded as offering the most enduring results. Recent data from the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) shows a clear uptick in the number of hair transplants, with procedures increasing by 20% or more annually. This surge in demand has opened the floodgates for a multitude of less-than-qualified physicians and non-physicians who claim to be experts in the field. Unlike traditional medicine, where doctors must graduate from an accredited medical school and undergo rigorous vetting by committees and other professionals to practice in hospitals or specialize in their fields, there are no comparable standards of care for hair transplants. This lack of regulation makes it difficult for patients to determine who is truly qualified to perform such procedures. Although licensed healthcare providers are held to strict medical and ethical standards, the absence of oversight in hair transplant practices has led to alarming trends. Some physicians are completing weekend courses and immediately setting up fully operational clinics, with little to no hands-on experience. Hair transplant centers are also being opened by businesspeople with no medical expertise, who hire the cheapest available physicians or technicians to perform the procedures. To make matters worse, some clinics intentionally obfuscate the qualifications of their staff—such as individuals with doctorates in unrelated fields who claim to be medical doctors—and others employ foreign-trained doctors who are not licensed to practice in the U.S. These professionals often misrepresent their credentials, degrees, and skill sets. I was recently made aware of a physician, Vinay Rawlani, who allegedly held a staff position at Northwestern University, a prestigious hospital in Chicago where I proudly attended medical school. Many patients who have visited my office mentioned that they had also consulted with him, and he claimed to be a staff member at Northwestern, with an office there. Upon further investigation, I discovered that his medical license had been revoked in 2017 and only reinstated in 2020, which would render it impossible for him to be an expert in hair transplant surgery. Rawlani was also charged with felony theft of nearly $200,000 worth of equipment from the hospital. Although the stolen property was found in his home, Rawlani pleaded not guilty to the charges. This information is a matter of public record. It is absurd that someone who has stolen from a hospital and profited from that theft is now masquerading as a faculty member at the very institution he victimized. I am shocked that Northwestern has allowed him to rent office space within the institution from which he stole. Rawlani’s deception has been so successful that he is now recognized as a medical director at other hair transplant clinics. I personally know convicted felons who are denied the privilege to vote. By no means, however, is Rawlani the only one pretending to be an expert in this field. To protect yourself, follow these steps when considering a hair transplant: First, verify the provider’s credentials to ensure they are licensed and certified by a recognized medical board. Research the clinic by looking for reviews and before-and-after videos (which can’t be manipulated like photos) and confirming the facility’s accreditation. Don’t hesitate to ask questions about the provider’s experience, techniques, and safety protocols. A hair transplant is an investment in your appearance and confidence. Cutting corners by choosing an unlicensed provider can lead to devastating health complications, poor results, and significant financial and emotional costs. When it comes to your health and well-being, the best option is always the one that prioritizes safety and expertise. Make informed choices, and you’ll not only protect yourself but also achieve the lasting, natural results you deserve.

Understanding Hair Loss: Telogen Effluvium Recovery Signs

What is Telogen Effluvium?

Common Causes of Telogen Effluvium

Common Causes of Telogen Effluvium