Hair Loss After COVID: Does Coronavirus Cause Hair Loss?

Hair loss, in which 1 out of every 5 women and 25 percent of men suffer in society, is a preventable problem if it is correctly detected. Reasons for hair loss may rely upon the individual, society, hereditary variables, nourishment, drug use, age, sex, and haircare. Seasonal changes, stress, iron deficiency, hormone disorders can be considered among the causes of hair loss. However, long-term hair loss can also be one of the symptoms or consequences of serious diseases. So, does Covid-19 cause hair loss?

Covid-19 does not cause hair loss by itself according to the current data. However, there should be more research on the subject to reach a conclusion. Future studies may reveal the hair loss effect of Covid-19. On the other hand, the stress caused by Covid-19 may cause hair loss. Many Covid-19 patients report hair loss problems before, during, or after their treatment process. Still, there are controversies that Covid-19 causes hair loss. Let’s examine them all together.

New Effect of Covid-19: Hair Loss

While researchers contend to discover a solution for the Covid pandemic, new data about the infection keeps on coming. Specialists actually face numerous vulnerabilities with respect to the infection. Hence, every chance is assessed in the treatment of patients. Presently specialists have gotten various reports of a potential impact of the Coronavirus: Hair misfortune. Dermatologist Shilpi Khetarpal stated, “We are seeing patients who got Covid-19 a few months back and now have scalp problems.”

Working together with Indiana University School of Medicine, Dr. Natalie Lambert included such notification in an as of late delivered report. The report, which expressed that it was anything but a companion audited study, incorporated the accompanying clarifications: The aftereffects of this investigation incorporate the encounters revealed by individuals experiencing the drawn-out impacts of Covid-19, known as ‘long haul transporters’ among general society. Covid cases are commonly isolated into two gatherings, as indicated by the Cleveland Clinic. The vast majority of the cases with mellow illness mend inside about fourteen days. It might take three to about a month and a half to getting back to business as usual in patients with serious illness.

A scary admonition from the acclaimed researcher: Be ready for the infection to become more grounded and the antibody to be ineffectual. Then again, there are patients who are excluded from one of these gatherings. These Covid-19 casualties, known as “long haul transporters”, keep on encountering the impacts of the sickness for a few months. In the report named “Review report of the individuals who convey Covid-19 for quite a while”, the impacts of Covid on numerous body frameworks were additionally clarified. The record incorporated the articulations “Mind, entire body, eye, and skin side effects are regular medical issues in individuals who endure Covid-19”. Other than these manifestations, a stunning indication was referenced in the report. In like manner, 423 individuals partaking in the review announced that their hair was lost.

A week ago, the Cleveland Clinic distributed a comparable report, as per Forbes. Dermatologist Shilpi Khetarpal from Cleveland Clinic expressed, “We are seeing patients who were gotten with Covid-19 a few months back and now have balding.” According to Dr. Khetarpal, this manifestation is likely brought about by a dermatological condition called “telogen emanation”. This infirmity causes “brief balding brought about by the stun experienced by the body framework”. Conditions that trigger this issue incorporate medical procedures, physical or mental injury, contaminations, and high fever.

The President of Canadian Hair Loss Foundation Dr. Jeff Donovan said it was presumably an impermanent circumstance. Donovan utilized the accompanying assertions regarding the matter: I think it is imperative to promise the patient that he will recuperate from this circumstance. Since numerous patients, particularly ladies, fear being uncovered. This going bald will pass, yet it takes effort for the circumstance of getting back to business as usual. Balding is only one of the potential discoveries of Covid. Nonetheless, it is believed that Covid-19 will add to understanding the drawn-out outcomes.

COVID-19 Patients May Experience Hair Loss

Since COVID-19, which affects the whole world, is a new disease, there are many things we do not know about yet. According to some reports, COVID-19 can cause hair loss. Peggy Goroly from the USA is 56 years old and has a positive coronavirus test. Since March 5th, he has been experiencing problems such as fatigue, dizziness, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath. She has shortness of breath while climbing the stairs or going to the grocery store and still does not feel better. She also noticed that her hair was shed in the second week of June, 3 months after her symptoms appeared. Speaking to Business Insider, Goroly describes her hair loss as “traumatic”, among other troubles she experienced.

Peggy Goroly is not alone. Goroly, a member of a Facebook group established by COVID-19 patients to support each other, where long-lasting symptoms are shared, says others have also encountered hair loss. Goroly’s daughter was also diagnosed with coronavirus in April. His hair is also falling out. Although the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention has not yet shown hair loss among the symptoms of COVID-19, there are some doctors who observe it. “We encounter hair loss in some severe cases,” says doctors who report such situations.

Working at the US health firm Forward and collecting data on coronavirus patients, Dr. Nate Favini said that some patients experienced a condition called telogen effluvium, which caused the hair not to grow after a traumatic event and to shed after 3 months. While around 100 hairs per day are lost in healthy people, in people with telogen effluvium, hair loss can go up to 3 times that.

How Exactly Covid-19 and Hair Loss Are Related?

Complaints that increased about five months after the epidemic spread around the world suggest that hair loss may be related to the coronavirus itself or the stress caused by it. When we look at the articles and forums written on the subject in foreign news, it is seen that many people, especially people with thyroid and similar chronic diseases, complain about hair loss above average, although their values are normal. Experts believe that the hair loss experienced by many people who have had Covid-19 is compatible with the type of temporary and acute hair loss, known as telogen effluvium.

Telogen effluvium mostly occurs as a result of physical and psychological stress, high fever, illness, and sudden weight loss; coronavirus directly causes many of them. A survey on Facebook, in a solidarity group called Long Haulers, who survived Covid-19 and suffered from the long-term side effects of the disease, shows that 27 percent of respondents experienced hair loss. There are many people in the group who complain about not being able to tie their hair as before or separate them in the way they used to.

On the other hand, the problem of hair loss is not only increased in people infected with the coronavirus. Although doctors do not want to eliminate the link between coronavirus and hair loss, they draw attention to the increase in the number of people who come to them due to hair loss even though they do not have the disease. This suggests that those infected with the virus may also have been exposed to a higher stress level than they are used to due to the pandemic, and hair loss may be occurring in response to this situation.

Hair specialist Dr. Marc Glashofer says: When I see someone with the top of the head, I don’t ask him how much stress he has been exposed to in his daily life, at work or in traffic. Often the subject comes to issues such as the death of a loved one, career change, divorce, or Covid-19 (which is a serious source of stress). Sara Hogan of UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine says research on the subject is just beginning because it takes a certain amount of time to establish a link between the pandemic and telogen effluvium.

According to Hogan, it makes sense that complaints began to be raised in countries about five months after the epidemic occurred. Because, especially in hair loss triggered by stress, symptoms appear after a certain period of time after the factor that causes stress occurs. The transition of the hair to the telogen phase means resting. In fact, it is a necessary process for new hair to grow stronger, however, while an average of five percent of the hair should pass to this phase, half of the hair can switch to the telogen phase when faced with above-average stress.

Since hair growth and shedding is a cyclical process, the person suddenly notices the thinning of their hair at the end of about three months. Looking at the various articles and social media on the subject, this is exactly what experts have already observed. Of course, stress is not the only reason for hair loss, but also genetic structure, age, hormonal imbalances, various health problems, and medications; However, experts in the subject state that stress is a trigger in cases of predisposition. Dr. Glashofer emphasizes that hair loss caused by telogen effluvium is temporary and therefore stress should not be done.

Stating that the hair will come back in the next weeks or months, Glashofer says that the first sign of this is mostly small and thin hair in the forehead area. However, it is beneficial for those with hair loss complaints to check their values such as vitamin D, B12, iron, and thyroid hormones, because their deficiency can often lead to hair loss. On the other hand, according to Glashofer, who says that biotin will not benefit in case of spillage caused by telogen effluvium, PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) therapy is an option that can be considered at this point.

Hair Loss Increases After Covid-19

Experts noted that each hair strand has a natural life span and that this period is 5-6 years for a person with “perfect” genetics. Explaining that the hair follicle that produces hair later passed to the resting phase, experts stated that this process continued for 4 months, and then hair production started again. Pointing out that this is happening as a “cycle,” experts said, “In this process, about 70-80 hair strands need to go to rest every day, that is to say, shedding. When the number of hair shed goes over 100-120, then we notice this. We can see it in the comb, in the bath, on the pillow, when we throw our hair into our hands. We can describe it as a disease, but this disease can sometimes be a part of a normal event. Sometimes there may be a shedding lasting 2 months.”

Experts pointed out that the formation of “round” gaps between the hair with permanent shedding may be due to scalp diseases, and in this case, they recommended seeing a doctor immediately without waiting for 2 months. Experts stated that nutritional deficiencies, surgery, febrile illness, psychological stress, hormonal imbalance, rapid weight loss, some medications, and some internal organ diseases can cause hair loss, continued as follows:

Also, stress-related male pattern hair Many people could not leave their homes for a long time, some experienced economic difficulties, some were dismissed. Old people and young people were disconnected from social life. During this process, there was a lot of stress that could cause hair loss.

Experts explained that iron, folic acid, zinc, B12, and biotin are vitamins and minerals that mainly affect hair. Pointing out the benefits of a diet rich in these vitamins and minerals, experts said: “You should eat beef. Because it contains both B12 and iron. Green leafy plants should be consumed raw as much as possible, as folic acid is high. Folic acid is also present in fish. In other words, a balanced diet is required. In cases where vitamin and mineral deficiencies are thought, a blood analysis should be done.”

Covid-19, Stress, and Hair Loss

Hair loss in this way is natural and 50-100 hair loss per day is normal. Hair loss can have very different reasons. Although it is clearly known that stress causes hair loss, the number of people suffering from hair loss has unfortunately increased during this period due to the effects of both seasonal and coronavirus. Months of efforts to avoid getting sick have affected our hair health as well as our psychology. Our staying in homes for months has also been effective in this.

On the other hand, some drugs used in the treatment of high fever and disease seen in people with Covid-19 disease also caused hair loss during this period. Although stress causes hair loss, hormonal imbalances, and some vitamin and mineral deficiencies are also effective in this problem. Not eating a regular and balanced diet, long-term hunger, and a uniform diet are also effective. If vitamins and minerals such as B12, vitamin D, folic acid, biotin, zinc, iron are low, hair cannot be nourished and shed. Meat should be eaten frequently. Because meat contains both B12 and iron. Since folic acid is high in green leafy plants, they should be consumed raw as much as possible. Folic acid is also present in fish. In summary, a balanced diet is required for hair health.

If the hair loss period exceeds 2 months, it may be the harbinger of some serious diseases and requires expert help. Misdirections and hearsay information from the environment can cause patients to lose time. On the off chance that there is a significant hidden reason, it very well might be deferred in analysis and treatment. Therefore, support must be obtained from a dermatology specialist.

Covid-19 Related Stress Causes Hair Loss

Recently, there has been an increase in patients who come to dermatology clinics with complaints of hair loss. Although it is clearly known that stress causes hair loss, the number of people suffering from hair loss is, unfortunately, increasing in this period due to the various effects of both seasonal shedding and corona disease. Months of efforts to avoid getting sick have affected our hair health as well as our psychology. Our hair is our most important visual treasure. It is the organ that we give the first clues about our general body health and mental state to our environment.

From time to time, we all experience problems such as hair loss, weakness, pallor, breakage. If the hair loss period exceeds 2 months, it may be a harbinger of some serious diseases and requires expert assistance. Every existing hair strand has a life cycle. Every hair follicle lives for 4-6 years, at that point, rests and afterward drops out. Losing hair in this manner is an incredibly characteristic cycle and 50-100 hairs lost every day is viewed as typical. On the off chance that we shed more than this number, if the number of hair strands on the hand raises while scrubbing down, this circumstance ought to be paid attention to. Hair loss can have many different causes. So how did the coronavirus shed our hair?

Due to the global epidemic of coronavirus, our being confined at home, going through this process with stress, chaos, anxiety, and sadness caused a serious increase in our hair loss. Many people could not go out of their homes for a long time, some experienced economic difficulties. Older individuals and young people are disconnected from social life. During this cycle, there were numerous stress sources that hair loss may arise from. In addition, stress causes deterioration in the quality and vitality of our hair. Among the causes of hair loss, vitamin D deficiency is already very common. However, the rate of this has increased much more because we have been stuck in homes for months.

Both the stress of staying at home and the inability to get vitamin D by staying at home caused the hair to fall out more than usual. Unfortunately, some drugs used in the treatment of high fever and disease seen in people with Covid-19 disease also caused hair loss during this period. Although stress causes a lot in this period; It is necessary not to evaluate the person who has hair loss problems only with stress. Many other reasons can cause hair loss:

The reasons for hair loss in ladies and men are unique. Losing hair found in men is a male hormone-based situation that is commonly hereditary and found in over half of the general public. This sort of balding is persistent. As the age advances, hairlessness creates and may require hair transplantation subsequently. Support medicines began at an early age hinder the pace of balding. It delays an opportunity to go completely bald. This kind of balding is additionally found in ladies. Particularly individuals with people with sparseness issues in their families face the danger of balding.

Another basic factor is losing hair because of nutritional deficiencies. After all, hair is a living organ and it needs to be fed and blooded. Not eating a regular and balanced diet, long-term hunger, uniform nutrition can ultimately affect and shed the hair. Its treatment is incredibly easy and it is imperative to begin a decent eating regimen. In spite of the fact that there is no nutritional issue, the absence of nutrients and minerals in the blood is another explanation behind losing hair. If vitamins and minerals such as B12, vitamin D, folic acid, biotin, zinc, iron are low, hair cannot be nourished and shed. In these cases, the deficiency should be supplemented by a specialist. If the person has hormonal problems, menstrual delays or irregularities, increased hair growth, excessive acne, accelerated weight gain, if these findings are added to hair loss, then hormonal hair loss can be mentioned. Hormonal treatments are effective for this type of hair loss.

A medical procedure, a car crash, or a genuine disease, or even any influenza can cause acute hair loss. It is a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium. Hair has a certain programmed life cycle: the growth phase, the resting phase, and the shedding phase. Contingent upon the seriousness of the stress, the hair cycle might be broken and the balding stage may quicken. Hair loss due to post-traumatic conditions can last somewhere in the range of three months and a half year. As per the American Academy of Dermatology, on the off chance that you can’t get enough protein in your eating routine, the hair development cycle can be stopped by the body. Hair starts to fall after one or two months from the decrease in protein in the body.

The cause behind the hair loss in many individuals beyond 60 years old is frequently male pattern hair loss. In this kind of balding, caused by the genes and hormones, the hair is typically pulled in a traditional way from the top to the back, leaving an M-molded hairline on the head. On the other hand, female pattern balding is fundamentally the female form of male example hair loss. On the off chance that ladies have a past of losing hair after a particular age, they might be substantially more inclined to this sort of balding. In opposition to men, ladies don’t encounter going bald by hairline decline. In women, there is a loss in the whole hair.

Female hormones can likewise cause going bald as with pregnancy and drug use. This can likewise be seen all the more habitually in those with a family background of going bald, for example, telogen effluvium. Menopause can likewise prompt outcomes that disturb the hormonal equilibrium. The androgen (male hormone) on the scalp can get dynamic. Hair follicles get smaller and the person starts to lose more hair.

Measures to Be Taken Against Coronavirus

While the deadly coronavirus continues to spread around the world, studies are underway to develop a coronavirus vaccine against the disease in different docks. In addition to scientific studies, there are also measures that people can take individually. So, how should precautions be taken against the coronavirus surrounding the world? Disposable paper towels should be used instead of fabric towels. If we can provide facial and body health, we will take 80% precaution against viruses. Iodine components are a powerful antiviral at this point and must be used under expert control because too much of these products can cause skin irritation.

We can make water solutions out of these products and use them in hand hygiene. Another product is cologne. We can utilize cologne for the purpose of keeping the virus away since it has generally 80% alcohol. As another point, isopropyl alcohol can be used, but this alcohol does not affect viruses 100%, but it can still be taken as a precaution. You can obtain all these chemical products from pharmacies. Masks do not protect us 100%, but it will be good for sick people to wear them, people who do not have a disease do not need to wear them. In general terms, water, soap, and general cleaning come first.

We must try to strengthen our immune system in order to protect against this virus, which still has no cure and vaccine. Sufficient sleep (7-8 hours a day), avoiding stress, exercising, complying with hygiene rules, not smoking, and not using alcohol, in summary, adopting a healthy lifestyle are among the first things we should do. We should pay attention to a regular and balanced diet, to get enough fluids, to a diet rich in quality protein, natural vegetables/fruits, whole grains, legumes, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Although there is not enough evidence, supplements containing vitamin D, zinc, omega-3, and natural vitamin C may work. Apart from this, it is recommended to wash the hands frequently and not to touch the face, mouth, and eyes in any way after contact.

It is an effective way to prevent all respiratory viruses from being transmitted. The ones with the greater risk are especially the elderly, those with chronic diseases (heart disease, kidney disease, respiratory disease, neurological disease, diabetes); those with an insufficient immune system; cancer patients, or those in the last stage of any disease. Since coronavirus is transmitted by the respiratory tract, not food, it is recommended that risky individuals wear masks, do not enter crowded environments, and travel unless necessary.

Maintaining social distance, hygiene rules, and other frequently expressed measures are very important in order to avoid the coronavirus epidemic. There are serious health risks in workplaces. Maintaining social distance is difficult and often impossible. Services and dining halls pose a serious risk, despite all the precautions to be taken. Prevention programs against the COVID-19 outbreak at workplaces should be considered as part of public service, as they directly affect public health.

Within the scope of combating the epidemic, businesses other than those that produce mandatory, urgent, and basic goods and services should be vacationed. Staying at home is one of the important measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic, and there are public calls for those who can do their jobs outside of the workplace to work from home. In areas where remote work is applicable, the conditions for its application for this period should be established. It is possible to work remotely in many areas in public and private and is one of the most important ways of protection from the epidemic.

Unfortunately, the number of workers who can work from home is very small, for the majority of whom are precarious and for low wages, working from home is not possible without a socioeconomic epidemic support package supported by the government. This is the only way to protect the health of the employees and society. During this compulsory stay at home, minimum accommodation and nutrition conditions should also be met. In this process, working conditions should be determined and implemented in areas that must continue their activities such as food, health, and energy.