A pattern of alopecia that does not scar, Telogen effluvium is distinguished by scattered and strewn hair shedding across the scalp.

Hair normally goes through two phases one called anagen and the other telogen; the first being the growth phase and the latter the resting phase. Telogen effluvium occurs due to reasons such as physiologic stress or hormone disruptions which cause too many hairs to enter the telogen status at once. Shedding starts after the new anagen hairs start to grow and push the resting hairs out of the follicle. Telogen effluvium is usually seen more in women then men as they have hormone raging periods such as pregnancy, delivery and postpartum. It has no restrictions in age and is known to affect the tiniest infants as well. Other causes of telogen effluvium include: abrupt stoppage of other medications such as estrogen, chronic illnesses i.e. liver diseases, scalp injuries and infections, diet changes etc.

There is an overall disseminate shedding of the hair which leaves the remaining hair thinner and less dense then before.  There are two types of effluvium: acute and chronic. Acute telogen effluvium is when hair shedding lasts less than six months whereas chronic telogen effluvium leads to shedding lasting longer than 6 months. Telogen effluvium also does not impose any sort of scarring nor inflammation on the skin of the scalp.