telogen

noun
te·​lo·​gen | \ ˈtē-lə-ˌjen How to pronounce telogen (audio) \

Definition of telogen

: the resting phase of the hair growth cycle that typically lasts three months, is preceded by anagen and catagen, and is usually followed by shedding of the hair shaft during exogen

Note: Anagen will immediately follow telogen if hair is not shed at the end of telogen during the exogen phase.

Examples of telogen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But, in some cases, your body might shed an excessive amount of hair (telogen effluvium). Korin Miller, SELF, "Jessie James Decker Is Dealing with Postpartum Hair Loss," 10 Aug. 2018 What’s more likely is that telogen effluvium is at play (again). Jane Chertoff, SELF, "This Is Why Your Eyebrows Are Thinner Than They Used to Be—and What to Do About It," 13 July 2018 Thyroid problems: Excessive hair loss, or telogen effluvium, can be a sign that your thyroid gland is overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism). Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, "WATCH: What Your Hair Is Trying to Tell You About Your Health," 29 Mar. 2018 The subsequent decline in estrogen levels and rise of the stress hormone cortisol causes hair to move from the anagen cycle (growth) to the telogen phase (shedding), Wesley describes. Priya Rao, Vogue, "How to Deal With Post-Pregnancy Hair Loss, According to the Experts," 19 Mar. 2018 Experts estimate that between 40 and 50 percent of women experience telogen effluvium, a.k.a. Jackie Frere, Redbook, "This Viral Video Shows the "Grossly Satisfying" Results of Post-Baby Hair Loss," 7 Dec. 2017 One study showed that human hair has the highest number of hairs in the telogen phase in July, and a second smaller peak in April. Donna Freydkin, Allure, "How to Deal With Hair Shedding in the Fall —Why Is My Hair Falling Out in Autumn?," 15 Sep. 2017 Many women who arrive in a dermatologist’s office with prior diagnoses of female pattern hair loss actually have what’s called telogen effluvium. Courtney Rubin, New York Times, "Is This Treatment the Cure for Hair Loss?," 21 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'telogen.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of telogen

1926, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for telogen

telo- + -gen

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for telogen

telogen

noun
te·​lo·​gen | \ ˈtē-lə-ˌjen How to pronounce telogen (audio) \

Medical Definition of telogen

: the resting phase of the hair growth cycle that typically lasts three months, is preceded by anagen and catagen, and is usually followed by shedding of the hair shaft during exogen

Note: Anagen will immediately follow telogen if hair is not shed at the end of telogen during the exogen phase.

Scalp hairs spend four to eight years in anagen and just two to four months in telogen.— Julianne Dunphy The remaining 10 percent of hairs are in a resting phase called telogen that lasts about three months, after which the resting hairs start falling out.— Jane E. Brody