COVID HAIR LOSS
COVID HAIR LOSS
Long-term side effects following COVID-19 infection have caused many devastating symptoms, from loss of taste and smell to brain fog and fatigue. Hair loss has also been reported as a common symptom. While this side effect could be one of the most alarming, it is short lived in most circumstances.
What causes hair loss?
Patients who experience hair loss from COVID-19 infection may notice clumps of hair falling out while combing or washing their hair. The phenomenon is known as telogen effluvium.
About 90 percent of hairs on our scalp are in a growth phase, called anagen, and about 10 percent of hairs are in a resting phase, called telogen. On our scalp, anagen lasts for about three years, and then hairs begin transitioning into telogen, which lasts between two to six months. At the end of telogen, our hairs are shed from their follicles and gradually replaced by new anagen hairs. Then, the growth cycle continues.
On average, people shed about 100 to 150 hairs a day. But when an individual experiences a stressful event, such as COVID-19 infection, our bodies can prematurely shift up to 50 percent of growing anagen hairs into a resting telogen state. This process can lead to more rapid hair loss.
What else can trigger Hair Loss?
Viral infections
Hospitalization
Surgery
Childbirth
Medications, especially hormonal medications
Hormonal imbalances
Thyroid dysfunction
Entering menopause
Significant emotional stress
How long does hair shedding last with COVID?
The good news is the majority of telogen effluvium cases are over in about three to six months. When that period is over, those hairs will slowly shift back to normal. Telogen effluvium does not cause a person to lose their hair follicles. While hair may not temporarily grow, the hair follicles are still present, and hair will eventually regrow.
Even after the shedding has stopped, patients may notice their hair is not as thick as it once was. It usually means that it takes time for the hair to regrow into its original length. Because hair grows on average 1 cm per month, the longer the hair, the more time it will take the hair to be full once again.
In less than 10 percent of cases, patients may experience a condition called chronic telogen effluvium, where excessive hair shedding can persist beyond six months. In fact, it could be years until the condition ends.
Treatments
Because most people recover spontaneously, waiting at least 6 months before starting medical management is recommended. However, after this time it is reasonable to consider medications such as minoxidil or finasteride. Also, more aggressive treatments include PRP treatments with or without the use of exosome therapy are a viable option. As each person is different, options are catered to the person’s needs.
