Covid-19 & Hair Loss Explained

Is Hair Loss a Common Post-Covid-19 Symptom? Here’s What You Need to Know

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When recovering from Covid-19, the array of symptoms can be tough to deal with. Loss of taste and smell, debilitating fatigue and shortness of breath are just a few effects that can linger during post-COVID recovery. But what if a sudden and unexpected symptom you’re experiencing isn’t even listed on official medical sites? The symptom in question: hair loss. So, can coronavirus really cause hair loss, or is it just co-incidence? The hair loss specialists at Rituals Hair Lab in Scotter, Near Gainsborough explore this mystifying symptom of the coronavirus...

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Is Hair Loss Following Covid-19 Common?

After battling with a whole host of symptoms that COVID-19 can bring, you are no doubt left feeling exhausted. You are aware of the usual post-recovery symptoms, but suddenly find yourself with an alarming new symptom: your hair is coming out in clumps. Of course, you do a quick google search to see if it is related to coronavirus and find…not much. Now, in an already post-covid exhaustion state, you feel further anxiety at having no answers. What could be going on?

Losing unusual amounts of hair after suffering from coronavirus is much more common than you might think. If this has happened to you, you are not alone. According to a recent study, 25% of covid long-haulers suffer from unexpected hair loss. In fact, it is one of the top-five effects following the virus. But if you look at the list of post-covid symptoms on the NHS website, you won’t find hair loss anywhere. So why is there so little information out there when a quarter of COVID patients are affected by hair loss?

The Link Between Covid-19 and Hair Loss

If you ask your GP if your hair loss is caused by coronavirus, it is unlikely they will be able to confirm. As the virus is so new, it is simply not fully understood yet. The question of whether COVID-19 attacks hair follicles has not been researched, but overall, scientists don’t believe there is a direct link. However, it is concerning that post-covid hair loss sufferers feel ignored and can’t find answers. So, what could be going on?

Any severe stressor on the body, whether emotional or physical, can lead to hair loss. Experts say that it is a common side-effect following a virus due to the extreme stress that it puts on the body. When you think about the pandemic, not only does coronavirus put physical stress on the body, it has been an immense emotional weight on everyone’s shoulders too. The medical term for post-virus hair loss is Telogen Effluvium and it is believed to be what COVID ling haulers can experience.

Telogen Effluvium

Typically, a person can lose around 100 hairs a day, however telogen effluvium can cause around 300 hairs to be lost per day. Doctors describe this condition as more like ‘hair shedding’ than hair loss and it can occur around 3-6 months post viral infection or stressful experience, such as becoming ill with Covid-19.

Telogen Effluvium causes hair to be lost because it disrupts the hair cycle. Hair growth has 3 distinct phases: the anagen phase (growth), the catagen phase (transitional) and the telogen phase (resting). When suffering from Telogen Effluvium, more hairs enter the telogen phase which means they are ready to be shed, resulting in more hairs being lost than usual. The condition is temporary and tends to resolve within 6 months.

How To Treat Telogen Effluvium

Although Telogen Effluvium is temporary, it can take a while for your hair to regain the same fullness. After all, the stress of both a virus and sudden hair loss can be emotionally draining. There is unfortunately no magic bullet to speed up recovery, however there are some dietary and lifestyle tips to support you:

Improve your diet

It sounds like a cliché, but a diet full of nutrient-dense foods really does support your physical and mental health in so many ways. Eating a ‘rainbow’ of different fruits and vegetables, and adding in healthy fats and proteins is a great way to boost up your vitamin and mineral levels

Have a gentle hair-care routine

It might be worthwhile adopting a gentler styling routine whilst you recover. Avoid using any hair dyes or over styling with straighteners and curlers for a short period whilst your hair regrows.

Use specific shampoos from your pharmacy

Shampoos containing minoxidil can encourage hair to remain in the anagen (growth) phase for longer. The downside is they can be expensive and they stop working once you stop using it. Our hair loss experts may be able to recommend professional hair care products, including suphate-free shampoos for a more delicate cleanse for your scalp.

Relaxation

Following a virus, your body has been through the mill! Any time you can add in relaxation to your day promotes wellbeing. Even just 5 minutes of meditation or a 10 minute yoga routine can move your body from CAN chemistry (cortisol-adrenaline-norepinephrine) to DOSE chemistry (dopamine-oxytocin-serotonin-endorphins).

Join a support group

If you are feeling the emotional toll that Covid-19 hair loss can bring, talking to others who are going through the same thing can help. It is important to have a support network so that you feel less alone.

Coping With Hair Loss After Covid-19

Sudden and unexpected hair loss following coronavirus can be alarming. Despite no clinical data directly linking hair loss to the virus, it is clear that it is a common side-effect of any trauma to the body. With a quarter of COVID long-haulers experiencing hair loss, it is important the topic is spoken about so people are reassured that it is normal and temporary.

If you have been experiencing hair loss after coronavirus, it could be Telogen Effluvium to blame. However, it is worth talking to your GP to discount any other causes, such as thyroid disorders or iron deficiency.

If you are concerned about your hair loss and would like to speak to a hair loss expert in confidence, please call the hair loss specialists at Rituals Hair Lab in Scotter, Near Gainsborough, on 01724 76441.