The After Effects of Covid Hair Loss: A Growing Concern

As the world continues to navigate the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a growing number of people are experiencing an unexpected side effect – hair loss. While it's natural for individuals to experience shedding due to stress and other factors, experts say that the current surge in telogen effluvium (TE) cases is particularly alarming.

Telogen effluvium is a condition characterized by excessive hair shedding, often caused by hormonal stress or severe systemic infections such as COVID-19. According to Dr. Marc Glashofer, a hair loss expert with The Derm Group in West Orange, New Jersey, his practice has seen an overall increase in TE cases since the pandemic began.

Dr. Glashofer notes that people who have recently recovered from COVID-19 may start to experience hair loss about three months after their initial illness. This timing coincides with the peak of the pandemic and suggests that the stress caused by the virus is a significant factor in this phenomenon.

But why does telogen effluvium occur? The answer lies in the human hair cycle, which has three main stages: anagen (growth), catagen (transitional), and telogen (resting). Normally, about 5-10% of our hair is in the telogen phase, but with TE, this percentage can increase to around 30%. This leads to a noticeable increase in hair loss and thinning.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also recognized hair loss as a symptom reported by COVID-19 patients. According to Dr. Mark Blake, trichologist at Mark Blake Trichology, clients who have had COVID-19 will almost certainly experience hair loss around six weeks after catching the virus.

But TE is not the only side effect of COVID-19. Other common symptoms include fatigue or muscle weakness, difficulty sleeping, smell disorder, anxiety, and depression – with a higher percentage of these reported among women.

While telogen effluvium is typically a temporary condition, it can still have significant emotional impacts on those who experience it. By understanding the causes and consequences of TE, individuals can take steps to manage their symptoms and maintain their overall health during this challenging time.

After effects of covid hair loss