The coronavirus causes many complications in the patient’s body, among which is hair loss. It affects up to 25% of the recovering population! Trouble with hair loss usually begins 2-3 months after the virus and can involve the entire head. Some healers even notice their hair falling out by the handful. These problems are exacerbated by stress, weakness and elevated body temperature. During an illness, the immune system increases its “turnover,” which in turn affects the work of all organs. How to prevent hair loss after Covid-19? We will try to clarify it!
What is the relationship between covid and hair loss?
Covid-19 is an acute infectious disease that involves the respiratory system. It is distinguished by an individual course for each patient and in the vast majority gives moderate, mild symptoms. Unfortunately, some people go through the virus severely due to the incalculable and still not fully known nature of the disease.
The condition took hold of the entire planet at virtually the same time. Therefore, many new conclusions and hypotheses can now be drawn from observations of the human body. However, this is still a fairly new virus and too little time has passed to address the vast majority of questions and concerns. Complications from coronavirus vary, but quite a few are related specifically to hair loss.
Up to 25% of coronavirus survivors, especially women, have indicated moderate to severe hair loss, which occurs 2-3 months after the disease has subsided. The problem is serious enough to involve a huge amount of hair loss, weakened hair structure and visible thinning on the crown of the head. The occurrence of such problems is a cause of dismay for a lot of women, as well as men, and adversely affects their psyche.
Hair falls out after a coronavirus infection due to a number of factors. Any illness that runs with a high fever, including Covid-19, can contribute to excessive hair loss. This process is further compounded by:
- medications taken while treating an infection,
- disease-related stress,
- exhaustion of the body.
Patients who have already experienced coronavirus may also notice significant blood count abnormalities and vitamin deficiencies – which also affect hair loss.
When do you know that you are dealing with excessive hair loss after Covid-19?
Hair loss every day is a perfectly normal issue. This is primarily due to the 3 phases of hair growth:
- Anagen – hair growth (each day there is about 80% of hair in this phase),
- Catagen – hair involution (each day there is about 1 – 2% of hair in this phase),
- Telogen – the hair is dead, underneath it is already growing new hair (each day there are about 18 – 20% of hairs in this phase).
Every day a small percentage of hair falls out and is replaced by new hair. This is a completely normal situation, which is a programmed process in the human body and is called apoptosis – the lifespan of hair. However, the reason to worry is when the hair starts to fall out excessively. It is assumed that the number of daily, daily hair loss that should not cause negative emotions is 100. If you lose more hair every day, the amount of hair on your brush, in the shower or on the floor is completely different after coronavirus than before, then you can probably talk about telogenetic alopecia. This is one of several types of alopecia, which is the term for causal alopecia of a latent nature. Thus, it reveals itself directly when the causative agent acts on the body. Hair loss after undergoing Covid-19 has been classified as just such a type of hair loss. You can read about other causes of hair loss here.
What are the causes of telogen alopecia after Covid-19?
Among the primary causes of telogen loss, include:
- High fever,
- Severe stress caused by the characteristic course of the disease,
- Long-term weakening of the body,
- Taking certain medications,
- Lack of the right amount of vitamins needed for proper hair growth,
- Dehydration of the body,
- Weakening of the body,
- Hormonal changes.
As a result of telogen alopecia, hair follicles are not permanently damaged or inflamed. Therefore, using proper care and taking vitamins, the proper aging cycle of the hair will be restored quite quickly. So it is of great importance to choose the right ingredients in shampoos or conditioners. They should act to support, regenerate and strengthen hair follicles.
It is also worth remembering that excessive hair loss after Covid-19 may be accompanied by changes in hair structure, such as:
- Thinner hair,
- Weaker hair,
- Matted hair,
And also lesions of the scalp, among others:
- Reddened scalp,
- Irritated scalp,
- Scalp pain,
- Dandruff,
- Seborrheic dermatitis.
How to stop hair loss after Covid-19?
The effects associated with weakening the body with infection, can be reversed! It is of great importance to take proper care of the hair and scalp, as well as to use professional treatments. The latter stimulate and strengthen hair follicles. As a result, you will notice a quicker halt in hair loss and intense new hair growth.Recommended hair loss treatments after Covid-19, include:
- Mesotherapy of the scalp – one of the most popular aesthetic medicine treatments. It involves injecting the scalp with a special mixture of substances to stimulate circulation and revitalize the hair follicles. This, in turn, has a direct effect on inhibiting hair loss and stimulating new hair growth.
- Dr. Cyj peptide treatment – a treatment that helps effectively eliminate the problem of hair loss. Dr. Cyj is the first of its kind in the world to promote hair regrowth and stop hair loss. It contains seven unique peptides that are combined with hyaluronic acid to stimulate microcirculation of the scalp. As a result, they nourish the hair follicles.
- Carboxytherapy of the scalp – an innovative method of combating the problem of excessive hair loss and thinning hair. The application of carbon dioxide into the scalp by a trichologist with a fine needle helps stimulate the production of new blood vessels, boosts metabolism and improves micro- and macro-circulation of the scalp. The effect of the treatment is to inhibit excessive hair loss and new hair growth. It is also a very minimally invasive method that is natural and 100% safe.
Before deciding to implement the treatment, however, it is advisable to go to a trichologist for advice. The specialist will perform a trichoscope examination, that is, implement an advanced, modern form of diagnostics. This allows you to assess the condition of the scalp and hair, and with the trichoscope you can find the cause of hair loss and choose the appropriate treatment.
What are the contraindications to hair loss treatments after Covid-19?
Although, as a rule, post-Covid-19 hair loss treatments are safe and minimally invasive, they, like any other, have some contraindications to be performed. The procedure is discouraged:
- In pregnant women,
- During lactation,
In Patients with:
- active cancers,
- open wounds,
- inflammatory conditions in the scalp.
Contraindications include:
- autoimmune conditions,
- general poor health,
- weakening,
- herpes.
Doctors also advise against the procedure in people with:
- diabetes,
- skin infections,
- Allergy to the ingredients included in the medicinal preparations.
Hair loss after Covid-19 – what blood tests are worth taking?
It is worthwhile to perform general body tests after having Covid-19. This is very important, even if there were no effects of the disease visible at first glance. The body’s dysfunction may not be visible at first, and only a comprehensive examination will assess the damage caused by the infection. After Covid-19 virus, it is therefore worthwhile to perform such tests as:
- Blood morphology,
- Vitamin D levels,
- Liver enzymes ALT, AST and GGTP,
- Creatinine,
- C-reactive protein.
When one notices unusually severe hair loss after Covid-19, it is also worthwhile to perform tests targeting the hair and scalp. Among them, the most important are, for example:
- zinc levels,
- copper levels,
- biotin levels,
- folic acid levels,
- Vitamin B12 levels,
- Comprehensive thyroid testing: TSH, fT3, fT4, anti-TPO and anti-TG antibodies.
How to support the effect of applied hair loss treatments after Covid-19?
First of all, it is important to start acting quickly, because the longer the hair loss condition lasts, the greater the likelihood of permanent hair loss. In order to curb hair loss and contribute to hair regrowth as quickly as possible, it is worth acting on several areas. First of all, in addition to blood tests, it is worth:
- Check the condition of the scalp,
- Check the structure of the hair,
- Determine the extent of the hair loss problem,
- Implement a proper diet rich in vitamins,
- Determine the course of treatment.
You also need to implement strong preparations to rub into the scalp. These products will immediately replenish hair follicles and cell divisions from the inside, which will improve keratinization. The basis in selecting a formulation should be a rich formula. Desired substances for inhibition of hair loss and rapid regrowth of new hair after Covid-19 include:
- plant stem cells,
- peptides,
- nettle extract,
- green tea,
- Vitamins B12, B6, E,
- panthenol.
After undergoing Covid-19, many people notice a reddened scalp with a tendency to dryness. In such a situation, it is necessary to regenerate the epidermis and moisturize it. Argan masks with aloe vera are also great for giving hair shafts a healthy shine. However, one must remember to use such preparations for a minimum of 3 months.
The problem of hair loss after Covid-19 should not be underestimated. It can present physical and psychological problems. Fortunately, with proper care and the use of advanced medical treatments, the negative effects of the disease can be effectively counteracted. Trichologists perform advanced treatments that will allow you to enjoy long and thick hair again. Therefore, it is worthwhile to use the services of reputable specialists who will select the appropriate treatment technique for the patient.
The treatments performed by Dr. Piotr Turkowski at the OT.CO Clinic – a world specialist in hair restoration surgery and aesthetic medicine. He uses modern, least invasive methods that will guarantee patients natural results in a short time.
