When does hair thickness get back to normal after drug induced telogen effluvium?

Question

I used depakote 1000 mg daily for 7 months and had severe telogen effluvium. It has been 7 months I am off drug, I have regrowth, thickness improved but hair is still thin. Is it going to improve? Thanks.

Jeff Rapaport, MD · Answer

Most telogen effluvium improves within 6 to 12 months after it has started, provided the offending agent has been discontinued. However, if there's an underlying androgenic alopecia, is often unmasked by the telogen effluvium. You should be evaluated by a hair loss expert to determine the etiology of your hair loss. They will do a good history, examination with magnification, Woods light exam, and possibly blood work and biopsy. Treatment is based upon diagnosis.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

There are three things that can happen in a drug induced telogen effluvium: a) shedding retunr to normal in 9-12 months after stopping the drug b) shedding becomes chronic even though the drug is stopped and c) shedding improves but hair remains thin due to genetic hair loss development in the interim. Please see a physician to determine which applies to you. Hair density does not return to normal in everyone with drug induced TE.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

drug induced hair loss may take a year before seeing reversal, but if the hiar loss s from genetically impacted AGA type loss, it may never come back

When does hair thickness get back to normal after drug induced telogen effluvium?

Answers (3)

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