For example, estorgens during pregnancy prolong the telogen growth phase and when pregnancy is over, a large number of hairs go into the anagen resting phase. It gives the impression that one's hair is all falling out. Once a hair loss pattern has been determined to be diffuse and nonscarring, a hormonal or medication cause should be suspected. Knowing the different phases of hair growth helps determine when the substance might have had an effect and therefore what substance is suspect. Background This is an infrequently occuring category of disease.
Local factors are often the cause but the effect is usually mild.
Goals Alopecia areata must be ruled out because the other diagnoses can be treated. The etiology of alopecia areata is unknown. Goals Lupus erythematosus is the major systemic disease which causes this type of hair loss. Facticial alopecia and trichotillomania are very difficult to distinguish from other entities because of their psychological components. When generalized inflammatory conditions start out, they may just affect localized areas.