You are losing a lot of hair after pregnancy. On Google you see terms like postpartum hair loss, telogen effluvium and alopecia areata. But what is what? And when is it “just” hormonal, and when is it really time to call your doctor?
In this article I help you recognise telogen effluvium and tell the difference between:
- classic postpartum or stress related shedding (telogen effluvium)
- alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that often causes bald patches
We walk through 5 clear signs. This article does not replace a doctor, but it will give you language and clarity so you can talk to your GP or dermatologist with more confidence.
First, what is telogen effluvium?
Telogen effluvium is a type of hair loss where many hairs are pushed from the growth phase into the resting and shedding phase at the same time. This usually happens after a clear trigger:
- childbirth or pregnancy
- high fever or a strong flu
- surgery or general anaesthetic
- severe stress such as burnout, grief or relationship problems
- crash diets or serious nutritional deficiencies
Typical features:
- shedding starts 2 to 4 months after the trigger
- your hair becomes thinner all over the scalp, without sharp bald spots
- it is usually temporary once the cause is gone
And what is alopecia areata?
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease. Your immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles. The result is usually:
- sharply outlined round or oval bald patches
- sometimes several patches on different parts of the scalp
- sometimes loss of eyebrows, eyelashes or beard hair as well
It can start suddenly, sometimes after stress, but the pattern is different from telogen effluvium.
Recognising telogen effluvium in 5 signs
Let us put the two next to each other. For each sign you will see what it looks like in telogen effluvium (TE) and in alopecia areata (AA).
1. Pattern of hair loss
Telogen effluvium
- Hair loss is diffuse. That means
- you lose hairs over your entire scalp
- your ponytail feels thinner
- your parting looks a bit wider
- You rarely see true bald spots. It is more like “less volume everywhere”.
Alopecia areata
- Often clear round or oval bald patches.
- Patches can be the size of a coin, but also smaller or larger.
- The rest of your hair can still look quite dense, but the patches stand out.
In short:
If you see thinner hair everywhere and no sharp edges, that fits telogen effluvium more. If you see obvious “holes” or bald circles, you should think of alopecia areata and definitely see a doctor.
2. Timing – when did it start?
Telogen effluvium
- Often begins 2 to 4 months after a trigger such as childbirth, illness, surgery or heavy stress.
- Example: you give birth in January, and in April or May you suddenly see much more hair in your brush.
Alopecia areata
- Can start suddenly, without much delay.
- Sometimes you notice it after a stressful period, but not always.
- The bald patch or patches seem to appear out of nowhere, without months of diffuse thinning first.
If your hair loss clearly appears a few months after a big event and is diffuse, that points more to telogen effluvium.
3. How much hair do you lose per day?
Telogen effluvium
- You can lose hundreds of hairs per day.
- Especially while washing and brushing, a lot of hair comes out.
- The shower drain and hairbrush fill up quickly.
- Even so, you do not always see bald spots, only less density.
Alopecia areata
- Shedding can be heavy in the affected areas, but
- overall you might not notice extreme hair loss in your brush or shower
- or you mainly see that in one specific area there is suddenly very little or no hair left.
Important: both conditions can feel dramatic. But massive, diffuse shedding without clear bald patches fits telogen effluvium better.
4. What does your scalp look like?
Telogen effluvium
- Your scalp usually looks normal:
- little or no redness
- no obvious flakes or sores, unless you already had scalp problems
- When the shedding slows down you often see short new hairs between the longer ones and along your hairline.
Alopecia areata
- Bald patches are often
- smooth
- without flakes
- sometimes with “exclamation mark hairs”: short hairs that become thinner closer to the scalp
- The skin itself can look healthy, but there are clearly zones with no hair.
If you see smooth bald patches with sharp borders, that is a strong reason to call your GP.
5. What happens over time?
Telogen effluvium
- When the trigger has passed, for example postpartum hormones stabilise or you recover from illness, you usually notice
- shedding decreases after a few months
- baby hairs appear along your hairline and parting
- hair often recovers largely within 6 to 12 months
Alopecia areata
- The course is more unpredictable:
- one patch may partly or fully regrow
- while a new patch appears somewhere else
- it often comes in waves, with periods of improvement and new shedding
- Some people are left with persistent patches, others recover completely, usually under care of a dermatologist.
Checklist: when does it look like telogen effluvium?
The chance is high that you are dealing with telogen effluvium if you recognise yourself in this list:
- ✅ You had childbirth, illness, surgery or extreme stress 2 to 4 months ago.
- ✅ You lose a lot of hair, but it is thinner all over, not on one single spot.
- ✅ Your scalp looks normal, without round bald circles, sores or heavy redness.
- ✅ After some time you also notice short new hairs along your hairline.
- ✅ Apart from tiredness and stress, you do not have strange additional symptoms.
If this feels familiar, it is still worth discussing with your GP, but the chances are high that it is a temporary and reversible type of hair loss.
Checklist: when should you think of alopecia areata and see a doctor?
Make an appointment with your GP if you recognise one or more of these signs:
- ⚠️ One or more round or oval bald patches on your scalp, beard, eyebrows or eyelashes.
- ⚠️ The edges of the patches are sharply defined while the rest of your hair is still quite dense.
- ⚠️ You see short, broken exclamation mark hairs at the border of the bald patches.
- ⚠️ Patches are getting bigger or new ones are appearing quickly.
- ⚠️ There is little or no regrowth in the bald areas.
Alopecia areata is often easy to recognise for a GP or dermatologist. Sometimes extra tests are needed, but often the diagnosis can be made based on the pattern alone.
How do postpartum hair loss and telogen effluvium relate?
After pregnancy you often see a combination:
- during pregnancy: fuller hair due to high oestrogen
- 2 to 4 months after birth: postpartum telogen effluvium with diffuse shedding
- gradual recovery over 6 to 12 months
So postpartum hair loss is essentially telogen effluvium with a very clear cause. The pattern is the same: a temporary wave of extra shedding followed by stabilisation and regrowth.
What can you do yourself if you suspect telogen effluvium?
You cannot erase telogen effluvium with a single product. You can support your scalp and hair as your body recovers.
1. Address the trigger where you can
- reduce stress where possible
- eat regularly and nutritiously to avoid deficiencies
- get help for burnout, anxiety or long term stress
- after pregnancy, take your recovery seriously instead of just pushing through
2. Create a gentle, consistent hair and scalp routine
- mild, preferably natural shampoo
- no daily high heat styling
- avoid very tight ponytails, braids or buns
- do regular, gentle scalp massage with your fingertips
At ZENLUCA we focus on men and women with thinning hair who consciously choose 100 percent natural, effective care. Telogen effluvium benefits most from calm and consistency in your routine:
- a mild natural shampoo 2 to 3 times per week
- a scalp serum massaged into the scalp daily or a few times per week
- light, non heavy care on the lengths so your hair looks fuller rather than flatter
Our products do not replace a GP or dermatologist, but they can be part of a plan to care for your hair and scalp during this recovery phase. View this page for more information about the products and how to add them to your routine step by step.
3. Ask for blood tests if you are unsure
Ask your GP to check values such as:
- iron or ferritin
- vitamin D
- B12
- thyroid function
This is especially useful if you also have symptoms like extreme fatigue, cold hands and feet, palpitations or weight changes.
Short Q and A: recognising telogen effluvium
1. Is telogen effluvium always temporary?
In most cases yes. When the trigger is gone and your body has time to recover, hair growth usually normalises within 6 to 12 months. With long term stress or untreated deficiencies it can last longer.
2. Can telogen effluvium turn into alopecia areata?
No. They are two different processes. They can exist at the same time, but telogen effluvium does not change into alopecia areata.
3. Should I stop washing or brushing my hair with telogen effluvium?
No. The hairs that fall out now would have fallen out anyway. Washing or brushing less only means you see them later all at once. It is better to use gentle products and brush carefully.
4. When should I really see my GP?
Always if you
- see round bald patches
- have severe itching, pain, redness or sores on your scalp
- lose extreme amounts of hair for a long period
- have other symptoms in addition to hair loss, such as palpitations, weight loss or fever
In conclusion
Googling “telogen effluvium herkennen” is often a mix of wanting reassurance and fearing the worst. By understanding the pattern of your hair loss better, you can look at what is happening with a bit more calm.
Use these 5 signs as a guide:
- pattern of hair loss
- timing
- amount of shedding
- appearance of your scalp
- how it develops over time
When in doubt it is always better to see your GP once too often than to walk around with worry for too long. In the meantime, gentle, natural care plus good basics in lifestyle can give your hair and scalp the best chance to recover.