Some COVID-19 patients have spoken of a rather annoying side effect of the viral infection, saying they experienced hair loss or excessive hair loss after contracting the disease.
Hair loss after a fever or illness is normal, experts say. This also applies to COVID-19 infection, which can be emotionally, mentally and physically exhausting for patients.
according to American Academy of Dermatology, Alopecia and hair loss due to COVID-19 is often evident after recovering from a viral illness. Patients report that their hair falls out profusely in the months following recovery.
“While many people think of it as hair loss, it is actually hair loss. The medical name for this type of hair loss is telogen effluvium. It occurs when the balding phase (telogen phase) of the hair growth life cycle exceeds normal levels. At the same time. Fever or illness can force more hair into the shedding phase,” the group explained.
Dermatologist Shilpi Khetarpal, MD, echoed the sentiment on how COVID-19 is affecting hair.experts tell cleveland clinic This hair loss is a product of stressful events.
“At any given time, about 90 percent of our hair is growing, about 5 percent is resting, and 5 percent is shedding. But when you have a major stressful event, illness or shock, as much as 50 percent can be lost. into the shedding phase,” Khetarpal said.
Experts assure that hair loss is only temporary and nothing to worry about. But they also conceded that it could last six to nine months. After this period, people will no longer experience severe hair loss.
Another dermatologist, Kimberly Salkey, told verify Hormonal, physical and emotional changes that occur during the bout with COVID-19 may be responsible for temporary hair loss.
“From then on, it can take up to a year for the hair to return to the way it was before the whole problem started, but that won’t cause any permanent hair loss. It won’t cause you to lose all your hair,” added Sarkey .
The best way to manage excessive hair loss from COVID-19 infection is to exercise, eat a balanced diet, stay hydrated and manage stress, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Published by Medicaldaily.com