Hair Miniaturization with Telogen Effluvium

Is there ever miniaturization of the hair (thinner hair) with regrowth from Telogen Effluvium?  If so, does the hair ever return to normal size?

I lost about 1/2 of my hair from Telogen Effluvium.  I have little regrowth which appears to be miniaturized, and some of the new hairs (about 4-6 inches long) are falling out.  Will these hairs regrow, and should they return to normal density?
Also, most of the miniaturization is on the sides; the crown looks normal.

Thank you.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Telogen effluvium is nonscarring alopecia characterized by diffuse hair shedding, often with an acute onset. There is a chronic form also which persists for a longer duration and starts with insidious onset. Chronic telogen effluvium is hair shedding lasting longer than 6 months. Treatment consists of medications like Minoxidil, surgical approach(hair transplantation) and improvement in diet.

My sincere advice is to consult a trichologist. It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[thyroida]

Hello, thanks for your response.  I have been diagnosed with Telogen Effluvium; however, I am wondering if this diagnosis is correct as I am seeing miniaturized hairs.  Can there be hair miniaturization with TE, and will the thinner/miniaturized hairs eventually return to normal density?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It is normal to find short miniature hair in telogen effluvium. Depending on the duration of hair loss, close examination of the scalp may reveal a higher than expected number of short new hairs growing. This is because the hair enter the telogen phase. See the growth cycle of hair is in two phases, anagen or grwith phase and telogen or resting phase. During telogen, the resting hair remains in the follicle until it is pushed out by growth of a new anagen hair. In telogen effluvium, a large number of hair enter telogen at one time. When they start growing they do it together and so miniature hair may be present.

I hope it helps. Take care and regards.

[thyroida]

My question was actually concerning thinner hairs ("miniaturized"), not necessarily shorter hairs.