The Devastating Impact of Covid-19 on Hair Loss

Even after aggressive research, we are unsure about its severity and side effects. Many complain that they are experiencing significant hair loss after getting infected. Hair loss after covid is evident in people of all ages. Read this article to know about the possible reasons for hair loss due to covid and how it can be treated.

Why Are You Losing Hair After Covid-19?

Hair loss is generally a result of excessive stress and anxiety or an underlying disease. The covid-19 pandemic brought both these triggers, resulting in scalp hair loss. Experts explain this condition of losing excessive hair as telogen effluvium, which both physical and psychological stress can trigger. Let’s read how covid-19 induced this condition into our lives.

Telogen Effluvium refers to the transitioning of hair from the growth phase to the shedding or resting phase. One trigger of this condition is when our immune system gets weak or is fighting any illness or postpartum recovery. Covid attacks the immune system directly, resulting in hair loss.

Psychological stress is another trigger for telogen effluvium. Merely the thought of getting infected with the virus; stressed people. Other reasons include the emotional stress of losing a close person because of the virus, loss of employment, fear of going out of the house, and so much more. All these stressors resulted in medium to excessive hair loss.

What Does Post-COVID Hair Loss Look Like?

Shedding approximately 100 strands of hair a day is normal. This is because 5% to 10% of our hair is always in the shedding or resting phase. During telogen effluvium, more than 30% of our hair goes into the resting phase. One of the common symptoms of hair loss is losing about 300 to 400 strands of hair each day.

Many people who got infected with coronavirus say that they started experiencing hair loss 2 to 3 months after they recovered. This is precisely how telogen effluvium comes about. It does not show symptoms during the triggering event but when your immune system is recovering. It will start off as a natural hair fall with hair thinning, which may gradually increase.

Experts say that most people can see large clusters of hair on their pillows or in their hands whenever they touch their scalp. One should not take it as a seasonal or common issue as losing so much hair is not common and should not be neglected.

How Long Does Post-COVID-19 Hair Loss Last?

If the root cause of your hair loss after covid is telogen effluvium, then you would be happy to know it is not permanent. However, it can last for three to six months, which is enough to lose a major chunk of your hair volume. The critical point here is not to stress the hair loss as it will only trigger it more. Rather, one should focus more on the treatment.

According to the experts, telogen effluvium does not cause any damage to your hair follicles or scalp. This means that your hair can regain the previous volume and strength after the shedding period is over. This can take 9 months to 2 years. Sometimes, the time period can get longer than 2 years.

Post covid hair loss treatment may turn out to be a good option for those who experience excessive hair fall, and it is taking longer than expected to regain the lost volume. There can be other reasons associated with hair loss as well. We will discuss those reasons later in this article.

Ways To Stop Hair Loss Post-COVID?

Now that you know that one can experience hair loss after getting infected by the coronavirus, there is an important question that everyone is asking — How to stop hair loss after covid?

The virus is not spreading at an alarming rate like it was before. However, people are still getting infected and experiencing hair loss after recovery. Therefore, understanding how to stop hair loss after covid can help you prevent excessive hair loss.

The first step is not to take stress about the hair loss, as it can only escalate the issue. It is essential to know that this phase is temporary and treatable. It is not permanent, and your hair will grow back if you follow a few remedies. These remedies will only work if you have your stress hormone in control.

Apart from not taking stress, one remedy that will work for everyone is a healthy diet. Coronavirus affects your immune system, which results in the weakening of body muscles and hair loss. A balanced diet, induced with immunity boosters, will help you regain your strength and reduce hair fall to a certain extent.

Taking supplements after consulting a physician on a regular basis can also help you curb covid hair loss. Many people experience a significant fall in iron and vitamin D levels after covid. Adding these supplements to your daily diet will help you regain the lost minerals in your body.

You should also avoid using certain products or hair styling tools that result in hair fall or cause harm to your hair health. Dodge using any hair product with too much chemical or heating products like an iron rod or hair dryer. These will cause more damage to the hair strength.

Experiencing hair fall for three to six months is normal after covid. However, if it continues even after six months, you should consult with a hair expert as it may be because of other underlying issues.

Other Reasons That Causes Hair Loss

Telogen effluvium, which is generally the cause of hair loss after covid, is triggered by the physical and psychological stress our body goes through and is temporary, but not to be taken lightly. However, there could be other possible reasons for the hair loss triggered by these stressors.

Following are some reasons, other than covid, that causes hair loss.

• Heredity: A common cause of hair loss is heredity. People with a family history of baldness pattern experience it during their middle age. Such issues unfold when triggered, which in this case can be covid.
• Due to a Medical Condition: If you went through treatment, surgery, or childbirth, you may be experiencing hair loss during the recovery. This is common and also temporary.
• Lifestyle: There is a famous saying, “Your body is a reflection of your lifestyle.” Maintaining a healthy lifestyle to have a healthy body and hair is important. Irregular sleep, inconsistent meals, and lack of exercise can also cause hair loss.
• Unbalanced Diet: Our hair is a part of our body that needs nutrients to stay healthy. All the essential nutrients and minerals in our diet are crucial to preventing hair loss.

These are some common causes of hair loss, but the list is not limited to these.

Conclusion

Hair loss due to covid was recognized when most people started complaining about the excessive hair loss they were experiencing as the virus subsided. While we have discussed the common causes that could trigger hair loss after recovery from the virus, there is no guarantee what could be the exact cause of it. The studies are still being conducted to discover more about the increase in hair loss after covid. However, the remedies we discussed above can help overcome this issue to a certain extent.

If you are unsure about the cause of your hair loss, it is better to consult an expert. Starting a treatment without proper guidance can do more harm if your hair loss is due to covid, vitamin deficiency, or heredity. So, get in touch with Advanced Hair Studio today to regain your lost hair.