Does COVID-19 Causes Hair Loss?

Does COVID-19 Causes Hair Loss?

COVID-19, determined by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has spread physical and mental health consequences. Hair loss is one of the lesser-known but growingly noticed effects of the disease. Post-COVID, people have been reporting substantial hair loss weeks or months after their initial infection. This development has received much attention as more people seek answers to stop hair loss after COVID-19.

8 Ways COVID-19 Can Lead To Hair Loss

Since the virus does not destroy hair follicles internally, coronavirus-induced hair loss is typically temporary. In the cases we see in Smile Hair Clinic, it’s more commonly telogen effluvium (TE), a temporary type of hair loss that occurs after stress or illness. COVID-19 patients, however, can have Telogen Effluvium due to the infections themselves, fever (high fevers), stress and surgery, which are some of the causes of Telogen Effluvium.

What is Telogen Effluvium?

Under normal circumstances, 85-90% of the hair is in this anagen (growing) stage, while 10-15% is during the telogen shed (resting phase), where they fall after a certain period. Telogen effluvium is a form of non-scarring alopecia with an uptick in the percentage of hair that enters the telogen phase prematurely, often due to some sort of ‘shock’ (both mental and physical). Within two to three months following the event that causes hair loss, a person may notice more hairs than usual falling out.

In the case of COVID-19, both the virus and stress from living in the middle of a global history-making pandemic can force much more hair into that telogen phase, leading to more significant than average hair loss.

Global Factors Affecting Hair Loss Due to COVID-19

Common hair loss causes in the COVID-19 era:

COVID-19 is a vigorous viral infection that results in high physical stress on the body, manifested as fever, shortness of breath, and hospitalization.

• Illness The stress an illness places on the body can affect the normal hair growth cycle, resulting in shedding.
• Emotional and Psychological Stress The feelings related to a global pandemic, such as isolation and fear of illness or death in ourselves or loved ones, can cause telogen effluvium. Hair loss is common in times of stress, and with the increased psychological stress that many COVID-19 survivors have felt, hair loss has become an issue for many.
• Nutritional Deficiencies During COVID-19 recovery, an individual might not feel like eating well or may experience malnourishment or alteration from what he is supposed to consume. Not eating essential nutrients (iron, zinc, and vitamins) can also contribute to hair loss.
• Inflammation, also known as post-viral inflammation, can cause pain throughout the body, including on the scalp in some cases. Inflammation interferes with hair follicles and contributes to shedding.
• Can Hair Loss Be a Long-Term Side Effect of COVID-19? The good news is that hair loss from COVID-19 is temporary for most people. Telogen effluvium usually resolves spontaneously once the body recovers from the stressor, so there is typically a return to the average hair cycle growth within six to nine months. That said, watching massive amounts of hair fall out can be very distressing, particularly for those who may already have a significant reduction in the thickness of their hair. However, telogen effluvium may last longer if the trigger is not eradicated or addressed, as in the causes of vitamin deficiency, chronic stress or inflammatory conditions.
• Hair Loss and “Long COVID” Hair loss can be just one of several lingering symptoms in people with “Long COVID,” or the long-term symptoms of coronavirus that persist for weeks or even months after a person recovers from the acute phase of the infection. Hair growth will resume once these underlying health issues leading to Long COVID are dealt with in these unfortunates.

Does COVID-19 Cause Permanent Hair Loss?

Though telogen effluvium is usually temporary, some rare instances have been connected to COVID-19 apparent hair loss conditions that tend to be more irreversible and chronic in the setting of those genetically predisposed with conditions such as androgenetic alopecia (the male or female pattern baldness). In these cases, COVID-19 may speed up the hair thinning that was otherwise in store for you because of your genetics.

High-grade systemic inflammation or multi-organ dysfunction caused by COVID-19 may turn into scars that last or even permanent damage to hair follicles, but this only occurs in extreme cases.

Ways to Deal with COVID-19-Induced Hair Loss

Hair loss after COVID-19: Hair loss due to a stressful event like coronavirus is common and usually temporary, so patience is vital! Treatment options and strategies to Luminate Hair Growth:

• Patience and Time

Most of the time, hair will regrow independently after several months with telogen effluvium. Although it may be hard to cope with shedding, often, the best option is to wait for your body to make up for it. For up to 3-6 months, hair loss may become stable.

Nutritional Support

It is essential to have adequate vitamins and minerals in your diet to help with hair regrowth. Think about having foods containing:

Sources: Eggs, nuts, seeds and leafy greens, which will help with healthy hair and nails 1

• Iron: Because women lose blood regularly through menstruation, foods high in iron or fortified with iron—for example, red meat, beans, spinach, and fortified cereals—are essential.
• Zinc: Zinc is a prerequisite to cell division and tissue growth, which are crucial for the reproduction of hair cells. It comes from sources like seafood, meat, whole grains, etc.
• Vitamin D: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with alopecia. Ensure you get enough sun or take supplements.
• Omega-3 fatty acids: Eating omega-3s from fish and flaxseed can reduce inflammation and also assist in scaling the scalp.

Stress Management

Prolonged or intense stress can make hair loss worse. Mindfulness and meditation, yoga, and a daily exercise regimen can decrease stress and burnout while increasing overall health. If you are dealing with the mental stress of hair loss in relation to COVID-19, it may be necessary to talk to someone.

Topical Treatments

Minoxidil (Rogaine) may benefit individuals affected by telogen effluvium, but it is really the only over-the-counter treatment available for this condition. Minoxidil stimulates hair follicles and can help in regrowth; however, it should be supervised by a healthcare professional because not all conditions causing hair loss are conducive to minoxidil use.

Hair Supplements

People who lost their hair after the COVID-19 infection will get their hair back if they add hair supplements, biotin, and vitamin B, collagen. Still, always consult your doctor before beginning a supplement, as they can sometimes interact with medications or have side effects.

PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Therapy

PRP therapy is a little more high-tech and involves injecting the plasma in your blood, repeated with growth factors into the scalp to help grow that hair back. Although studies are still underway, the treatment is being touted as a solution to those suffering from telogen effluvium and androgenetic alopecia in its early stages.

Hair Doctor or Trichologist

If hair shedding persists for more than six months, or if hair thinning occurs, it is worth visiting a dermatologist (or a trichologist) in case of high-grade stress. They can examine your scalp, ask about health problems, and offer appropriate hair loss treatments.

Advice on How to Avoid This in the Future

While we all experience significant stressors in life — the kind that could trigger telogen effluvium like a pandemic — here are things you can do to promote overall hair health and keep future hair loss at bay

Balanced diet: Make sure you are consuming your proteins, vitamins, and minerals to maximize hair health.

Stress management: Regularly practice stress-relief techniques, such as meditation and yoga, to prevent prolonged physical and emotional strain.

Treat your scalp right: To get that good blood pumping, gently massage the scalp and opt for hairstyles that are not too tight on hair.

Hair loss is an emerging coronavirus-related concern that plagues many people while recovering from the disease. The majority of cases are the result of telogen effluvium, a temporary condition related to physical or emotional stress. While the condition can be quite disturbing, it is generally a self-limiting disorder, and hair usually grows back within a few months.

Support your general health, manage stress and optimize treatment to encourage regrowth and mitigate the long-term effects of COVID-19 on your hair. Visiting a healthcare provider can determine any root causes of hair loss and provide more specialized solutions if it continues.