Hair loss was a typical symptom among those infected during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The fact that the ailment persisted for months after recovery is even more alarming.
Hair loss may appear trivial in comparison to the other health problems caused by the deadly illness. However, a big number of persons who lost lumps of hair during and after illness believe it is a serious problem that has to be addressed. People are now concerned about not only repeated infection but also the recurrence of symptoms as the number of coronavirus cases rises. As a result, we sought the advice of specialists to assist us to answer some key issues about the link between COVID-19 and hair loss.
Why is it possible that COVID-19 causes hair loss?
The hair loss reported with COVID-19 is a typical case, in medical terminology known as telogen effluvium (TE). Hair loss appears to be sudden in those with TE. Hair falls out in huge lumps most of the time, especially when brushing or showering.
2 to 3 months following a triggering event, the majority of persons with TE have notable hair loss. This usually affects less than half of the scalp and lasts between 6 and 9 months. Most people discover that their hair regrows after this period.
What does this have to do with COVID-19? Any severe disease or sickness with a fever is one of the possible causes of TE. As it is not a secret anymore, fever is one of the most common signs of COVID-19 infection.
Another possible cause of TE is stress. Experiencing a disease like COVID-19 may undoubtedly be stressful on both the physical and emotional levels. In reality, due to the stress of quarantining, TE has been documented in some sources.
How does the TE operate?
The hair cycle must be understood in order to comprehend TE. Anagen is the active phase of the hair cycle, while telogen is the dormant phase. The hair falls out at the end of the telogen stage, and the cycle begins again in the anagen, the growing stage.
However, if an acute, significant stressor enters the picture, the cycle can be broken. Hair enters the resting period prematurely and falls out. Childbirth, hospitalization, surgery, significant weight loss, and acute and abrupt stress are all common triggers.
Shifting hair to rest could be part of our body’s complex energy-saving system. According to the notion, your body expends a lot of energy to develop hair. When you’re under a lot of stress, your body prioritizes survival over keeping your hair healthy.
Is it possible to regrow hair after TE?
The silver lining, however, is that it is a reversible hair loss, and your hair will regrow, but it may take some time to reach its original fullness. Hair regrows in three to six months on average.
Some Tips to Regrow Hair Faster
According to the expert, having adequate iron levels can aid in your recovery. The body uses iron stores to make red blood cells, thus your iron levels are crucial for reversing telogen effluvium and fast restoring fullness to your hair. Some day to day tips that you can follow to regrow your hair as fast as possible are as follows :
Focus on Nutritious Diet
Manage your Stress Properly
Take appropriate care of your Hair
When should I make an appointment with a doctor about my hair loss?
If your hair loss lasts more than six months or you have other symptoms such as patches of hair loss, itching, or other irritation, you should visit a doctor. Other reasons for hair loss, such as hormonal problems, dietary inadequacies, or autoimmune hair loss, may necessitate further investigation. While you’re waiting for your hair to regenerate, there may be some therapies available.
Talk to the experts at Eravio in case of any queries, and gain some insights if you are under certain confusion.