COVID-19 & shock hair loss

Shock hair loss has affected men and women for years and due to the outbreak of COVID-19, shock hair loss has been a recurring theme. COVID-19 has been a triggering event for some patients causing a sudden shedding of hair after contracting it. This type of hair loss is called Telogen Effluvium (TE). In this article we will review what it is, how it is caused and what you can do to help heal from it.

What is Telogen Effluvium (TE)?

It is the most common form of sudden hair loss, and it usually occurs around 3-months after a triggering event. The triggering event could be sickness, stress, trauma, essentially something out of the ordinary creating a negative impact on your body.

This type of hair loss has become more common place as the world endured COVID-19. Men and women would notice a sudden increase in hair shedding after contracting the disease. 

The hair loss can be up to 50% of the scalp hair over a roughly 6-month period.

How do you know if TE is the cause of your hair loss?

If it’s been 2-4 months after a triggering event, you can safely assume that this might be the cause. Of course, if you are unsure, you can see a trichologist or dermatologist who can run tests to check hormones, blood count, urine analysis etc.

Usually, hair loss experienced based on general aging or hormones tend to be gradual compared to TE which is a more drastic form.

What can you do if you are experiencing TE?

There really isn’t much you can do in terms of special treatment. I’ve heard of doctor administering hair loss treatments to help manage the situation. But the reality is you are looking at the following timelines: 3-6 months of shedding, followed by 3-6 of a regrowth phase

What you can do in the meantime is reduce stress (though I know hair loss already feels stressful). But stress really has a significant impact on your body’s ability to regenerate. Secondly, ensure you are eating a balanced diet and adding in exercise. 

For scalp and hair specific tips I would recommend you follow the 10 healthy hair tips that we have listed here. Adding these healthy hair tips won’t help TE heal faster, but it will ensure that there are no habitual things that are stunting your progress during this time.

If you are experiencing TE now, be patient. It’s hard and frustrating but it is momentary.

References

Malkud S. Telogen Effluvium: A Review. J Clin Diagn Res. 2015 Sep;9(9):WE01-3. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2015/15219.6492. Epub 2015 Sep 1. PMID: 26500992; PMCID: PMC4606321.

Rebora A. Telogen effluvium: a comprehensive review. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:583-590
https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S200471

Story image from Guardian Nigeria