Editor's Note: It’s important to note that medical conditions including hair loss and thinning hair should be properly assessed by a medical professional. Always consult with your doctor or dermatologist about your medical concerns.
With increasing cases due to the highly transmittable COVID omicron variant, we at HairMNL have been getting questions about whether or not their recent bout of hair fall was caused by their exposure to the virus. As cases across the world climb, the incidences of hair fall associated with the COVID have also increased. But does that mean COVID could be making your hair shed? The answer might not be as straightforward as you may think. Here’s what we know so far.
Is temporary hair loss normal after a fever or illness?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, “Fever is a common symptom of COVID-19. A few months after having a high fever or recovering from an illness, many people see noticeable hair loss.” They add, “a fever or illness can force more hairs into the shedding phase,” causing more people to lose more strands than usual after about 2-3 months from getting sickness.
Is it normal hair fall or is it telogen effluvium?
Is it normal hair fall or is it telogen effluvium?
Telogen Effluvium is the medical term for excessive shedding. Our hair has a natural cycle, but due to stress or shock on the body caused by sickness, sudden weight loss, and hormonal changes, this cycle can go on overdrive causing strands fall earlier. Losing 50-100 strands a day is normal, but if you’re seeing more than the usual clumps of hair in the shower, it would be good to check in with your doctor.
Will my hair still grow back to normal?
Depending on how often you get sick and the general state of your health, most often than not your hair will go back to it’s normal cycle once you’ve resolved the cause for the seasonal hair fall. The difference you may notice is that these new strands may appear thinner. Not to worry because with the right care, these should return to normal within 6-9 months.
How do I know if my hair shedding was caused by COVID?
As of writing, there are no specific or readily available studies to say definitively that COVID causes thinning hair or hair loss. It appears that hair loss is a “symptom of a symptom” - since fever, a common COVID symptom, can cause hair loss. Overall, it would be good to take notice of your regular hair loss and be mindful of any changes in your lifestyle.
Is there anything I can do about it?
Staying healthy and caring for your body is really the most important factor. Taking vitamins and having a healthy balanced diet could help too but for seasonal hair fall like this (where it’s not genetically linked), we recommend using treatments that are balanced for your scalp. Encouraging the right conditions to invigorate the scalp, hold on to strands and also help the hair follicle develop new ones.
So no need to panic! It’s better for your health and strands if you don’t. You can avail of HairMNL’s FREE consultation to determine the right set of thinning hair treatments for you. Visit our collection for thinning hair products for more.
Source https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/causes/covid-19
