![]() ![]() Research has found that the severity of the COVID infection is linked to hair shedding. Those with underlying health conditions and certain genetic predispositions may also be more likely to experience hair loss along with a COVID infection. People with underlying medical conditions are typically most susceptible to experiencing severe or long COVID symptoms. In fact, hair loss can continue for months after recovery. (2)īut when it comes to post-COVID-19 syndrome (also known as long COVID), research suggests hair loss may be one of many ongoing symptoms. Instead, it’s likely a secondary symptom, caused indirectly by something related to COVID. Hair loss is very unlikely to be a symptom of COVID-19. This is due to reduced blood flow to the area, which can damage the layers of skin and in some cases, the hair follicles. ![]() This is known to cause skin problems, like pressure ulcers (more commonly known as bed sores), but can also result in hair loss. Being in any single position for a long period can cause pressure on the skin. Patients who have been hospitalized, have been lying down for long periods on their back, or are placed in a prone position can also end up with pressure-induced alopecia. These include antiviral, antimalarial, anticoagulant, and immunosuppressant medications. For example, some of the medications used to treat or manage COVID can cause alopecia as a side effect. Treatment of COVID may also influence hair loss. Anagen effluvium (similar to telogen effluvium, but affecting a different phase of the hair growth cycle) and fibrosing alopecia are other autoimmune-based conditions that affect COVID patients, although these are less common. Alopecia areata is one of the more common autoimmune hair loss conditions in COVID patients. Hyperimmune COVID reactions can also influence pre-existing autoimmune forms of hair loss. COVID infections are specifically thought to cause a hyperimmune reaction that attacks the patient’s hair follicles. Hair follicles can be attacked as part of this response, causing hair loss. Some people may experience an autoimmune response as a result of having COVID, in which their body mistakenly attacks its own cells. This causes hair thinning in a diffuse pattern. The next growth phase doesn’t start, so when hair strands begin to fall out, new hairs don’t replace them. When stress-related hair loss occurs, hairs move from the growth phase into the resting phase of the hair growth cycle. Stress-related hair loss can also be caused by the experience of being hospitalized, weight loss during the infection, loss of nutrients, lack of sleep, fever, and even some medications used to treat the infection. The experience of having COVID and the fear, stress, and worry during the infection can be enough to cause telogen effluvium. Doctors have begun to refer to this specific type of stress-related hair loss as COVID-19-associated telogen effluvium. It can happen during the infection or in the weeks to months immediately afterward, while the patient is recovering. Telogen effluvium is estimated to occur in up to 60 percent of patients who have been diagnosed with coronavirus. It plays a part, but the infection itself isn’t causing loss of hair. (2) Does COVID Cause Hair Loss?ĬOVID can lead to hair loss in a variety of ways, but it’s not usually a direct cause. However, hair loss can also be caused by an autoimmune response as a result of the COVID infection, among other factors. Hair loss due to COVID is primarily caused by telogen effluvium (stress-related hair loss). ![]() This has occurred in both COVID patients and people experiencing increased stress as a result of living through the pandemic. The COVID pandemic has led to an increased number of people experiencing hair loss. Other causes of hair loss include autoimmune conditions like alopecia areata, where the body’s immune system attacks its own hair follicles. The most common cause of hair loss, androgenic alopecia (pattern hair loss) affects about 80 million people in America alone. The COVID pandemic has also affected people with pre-existing types of hair loss. In some cases, this is also stress-related hair loss, with the body being stressed by a new medication, while in others, the hair loss is due to lifestyle changes, like using personal protective equipment (PPE) on a daily basis. ![]() (1,2)Ī variety of medical treatments, vaccines, and behavioral changes related to COVID have also caused hair loss for some people. Stress-related hair loss causes rapid hair loss after a physically or emotionally stressful event. Individuals who experienced high levels of physiological or mental stress during this time have been more susceptible to hair loss. COVID-19 is a traumatic global event, changing life as we knew it and causing high levels of stress for almost everyone. ![]()
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