What is the Difference Between Androgenetic Alopecia and Telogen Effluvium

The key difference between androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium is that androgenetic alopecia causes permanent hair loss, while telogen effluvium causes temporary hair loss.

Androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium are two common types of hair loss conditions. Androgenetic alopecia usually develops in a specific pattern. On the other hand, telogen effluvium is triggered by a specific event. Both types of hair loss can sometimes look similar at the beginning. However, their effects on the hair follicles are quite different. Moreover, both these conditions are treatable with the right combination of habits and medications.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Androgenetic Alopecia 
3. What is Telogen Effluvium
4. Similarities – Androgenetic Alopecia and Telogen Effluvium
5. Androgenetic Alopecia vs Telogen Effluvium in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Androgenetic Alopecia vs Telogen Effluvium

What is Androgenetic Alopecia?

Androgenetic alopecia is a medical condition that causes permanent hair loss. It is a type of permanent hair loss that is caused by the effects of male sex hormones on the hair follicles. This is also referred to as male pattern hair loss. However, this condition can also be observed in women (female pattern hair loss), but in women, it is less common and less noticeable. The male sex hormone that triggers this condition is DHT. Moreover, some genetic factors, medications and supplements (for cancer, arthritis, heart problems, and blood pressure), radiation therapy to the head, very stressful events, and hairstyles may also trigger androgenetic alopecia.

In androgenetic alopecia, DHT attaches to androgen receptors in the scalp. This can lead to follicular miniaturization. Due to follicular miniaturization, hair follicles become smaller and spend less time in the anagen phase of the hair cycle. Therefore, over time, hair follicles become damaged and no longer able to grow. The signs and symptoms of this condition may include gradual thinning of hair on top of the head, circular or patchy bald spots, sudden loss of hair, full body hair loss, and patches of scaling that usually spread over the scalp. The risk factors for this condition include family history, age (in ages 20s, 30s, or 40s), significant weight loss, stress, and poor nutrition.

Androgenetic alopecia can be diagnosed through blood tests, pull tests, scalp biopsy, and light microscopy. Furthermore, androgenetic alopecia can be treated through medications (finasteride, minoxidil, and other medications like spironolactone or oral dutasteride), hair transplant surgery, and laser therapy.

What is Telogen Effluvium?

Telogen effluvium is a medical condition that causes temporary hair loss. It occurs when hairs prematurely enter the telogen phase of the hair growth cycle, which stops active hair growth and prepares for shedding. The causes of telogen effluvium may include high fever, childbirth, severe infections, psychological stress, major surgery, hyper or hypothyroidism, discontinuing the usage of birth control pills, a fat diet with non-proteins, medications like retinoids, beta blockers, depression drugs, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The symptoms of telogen effluvium include increased hair loss that can be seen while brushing the hair, thinning hair on the scalp, and dry hair that falls out easily.

Telogen effluvium can be diagnosed through physical examination, pull test, and scalp biopsy. Furthermore, treatment options for telogen effluvium may include medications like over-the-counter minoxidil, multivitamin and supplements (iron supplements and biotin supplements), and styling techniques (hairstyles, wigs, and hair weave).

What are the Similarities Between Androgenetic Alopecia and Telogen Effluvium?

• Androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium are two common types of hair loss conditions.
• Both conditions may have similar symptoms, like thinning of hair on the scalp.
• These conditions can affect anyone.
• Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and pull tests.
• They are treated through medications such as minoxidil.

What is the Difference Between Androgenetic Alopecia and Telogen Effluvium?

Androgenetic alopecia causes permanent hair loss, while telogen effluvium causes temporary hair loss. Thus, this is the key difference between androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium. Furthermore, in androgenetic alopecia, the hair loss happens gradually, but in telogen effluvium, the hair loss happens over a short period of time.

The below infographic presents the differences between androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Androgenetic Alopecia vs Telogen Effluvium

Androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium are two common types of hair loss conditions. Both forms of hair loss may have similar symptoms, like thinning of hair on the scalp. However, they are different from each other. In brief, the key difference between androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium is that androgenetic alopecia causes permanent hair loss, while telogen effluvium causes temporary hair loss.

Reference:

1. “Androgenetic Alopecia.” BMJ Best Practice US.
2. “Telogen Effluvium: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Regrowth.” Cleveland Clinic.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Male pattern baldness” Originally uploaded by Lkinkade (Transferred by XenonX3) – Originally uploaded on en.Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 2.5) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Medication-hair-loss” By Nhtindia – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia