Telogen effluvium, a form of temporary hair loss triggered by rapid weight loss, postpartum hormonal shifts, or high-fever illnesses like influenza, is increasingly being managed through nutritional supplementation to support hair regrowth, News1 reported on the 5th.
The sudden increase in hair shedding is often a delayed physiological response to systemic stress. While a healthy scalp naturally loses 50 to 100 strands per day during the resting phase, telogen effluvium causes an abnormal number of hairs to enter this resting stage simultaneously. This phenomenon can manifest several months after the initial triggering event, such as a restrictive diet or a significant medical illness, making the identification of the original cause critical for effective management.
The Biological Mechanism of Telogen Effluvium
Hair follicles operate on a cyclical biological clock consisting of three primary phases: the growth phase (anagen), the regression phase (catagen), and the resting phase (telogen). Under normal circumstances, only about 10% to 15% of hairs are in the telogen phase at any given time. However, metabolic stressors—including the protein and iron deficiencies often associated with rapid weight loss—can prematurely force hair follicles into the telogen phase.
Postpartum hair loss follows a different metabolic pathway, driven by the precipitous decline in estrogen levels following childbirth.
Nutritional Gaps Cause Delayed Hair Loss
- Delayed Reaction: Hair loss from dieting or illness often appears months after the actual event occurred.
- Nutritional Deficiency: Rapid weight loss can deplete the protein, iron, and vitamins necessary for hair to stay in the growth phase.
- Targeted Supplementation: Oral treatments containing medicinal yeast and keratin aim to replace the specific building blocks the body lacks during stress.
To address these nutritional gaps, Dongkook Pharmaceutical has introduced Pansidil, an over-the-counter oral hair loss treatment designed to supply the essential nutrients required for hair and nail synthesis. The formulation includes six key components: medicinal yeast, keratin, L-cystine, and B-complex vitamins. These ingredients act as the raw materials for the hair shaft, supporting the cellular processes involved in hair production.
Clinical research conducted on domestic medicinal yeast complexes indicates that nutritional intervention can yield measurable results in hair density and strength. According to data presented by Dongkook Pharmaceutical, users of these types of complex formulations reported a 79% increase in hair thickness, a 45% reduction in the number of hairs lost, and a 12% increase in total hair count.
| Metric | Observed Clinical Change |
|---|---|
| Hair Thickness Improvement | 79% |
| Reduction in Hair Shedding | 45% |
| Increase in Total Hair Count | 12% |
The research used to support these findings was presented by Dongkook Pharmaceutical. While the product is effective for hair and non-infectious nail growth issues, it is classified as a general medicinal product that can be purchased at pharmacies without a prescription. The standard adult dosage is one capsule, taken three times daily, for a duration of three to six months to allow for the natural hair growth cycle to complete.
Pansidil Leads South Korean Hair Loss Market
In the South Korean pharmaceutical market, Pansidil has maintained a high level of consumer trust, securing the top position in the hair loss treatment category of the 2026 Korea Industrial Brand Power Survey for the eighth year, with a score of 816 out of 1,000.
The rise in interest in hair loss treatments is also being driven by the recent surge in the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists for obesity management. While these medications are highly effective for weight loss, the rapid reduction in caloric intake can lead to unintended nutritional deficiencies.
The recovery of the hair follicle after a period of stress is a slow biological process, and patients should expect to wait several months before observing significant changes in hair density or shedding patterns.
