Did Shingles Cause Telogen Effluvium or Male Pattern Hair Loss?'

Kevin

Question: I had a case of shingles back in February brought on by extreme stress. side symptoms were lymph node swelling and a fever/flu. I also had an intestinal ulcer that started at the same time. PPIs and Aciclovir, were provided. Hair loss started in May; Three months after the incident. Is this enough evidence to reason, that this out- of nowhere hair loss is Telogen Effluvium and not Male Pattern? My doc is taking forever to see a reason to send me to a derm. specialist for real investigation.

Answer: Hi, Kevin. The timing of your hair loss certainly suggests that it could be due to a case of Telogen Effluvium.

This can be caused due to the stress that having shingles and other health issues has placed on your body. It can also occur as a side effect of the medication prescribed to help combat these illnesses.

Shedding of this kind causes diffusely thinning hair all over the scalp which usually starts to become noticeable around three months after being triggered. If the underlying cause is being dealt with and this was the sole cause of the hairloss, this will generally clear up within around six months time. A personalised course of Telogen Effluvium treatment can be useful for people who wish to help speed up their recovery time.

If you have an existing predisposition to androgenetic alopecia, it is possible for Telogen Effluvium to accelerate the onset of Male Pattern Hair Loss. If this is the case then it would usually cause more intense areas of hair fall around the top of the head and hairline, which are the areas affected by genetic hair loss. Both conditions can present simultaneously but, equally, both can benefit from custom hair loss treatment.

In order to know the precise cause, or causes, of your shedding it is important to get a professional diagnosis. Once you have this, personalised hair loss treatment recommendations can be tailored to your specific needs. If you are based in or near London, UK, you are welcome to visit one of our Central London or City of London hair loss clinics for a free consultation. Alternatively, if you are based outside London or abroad, you can complete our online consultation form.