When the pandemic hit, it caused a lot of added stress in people’s lives. People were isolated. People ended up very sick, with sometimes long-term complications due to contracting this illness. There has also been another side effect that people have noticed as a result of getting COVID: hair loss. Is their hair loss associated with COVID? If so, what can you do about it if you suffer from COVID-related hair loss? This article will look at everything you need to know about COVID-19 and hair loss.
Can COVID Cause Hair Loss?
The first question that you have is whether or not COVID can cause hair loss. However, it is essential to know that COVID isn’t the only illness that can have this effect on people. There are a variety of diseases and conditions that can lead to hair loss as well. This is because of a condition called “telogen effluvium.” This condition is caused by physiological stress resulting from various illnesses and pregnancy.
But that is only one potential cause of hair loss in people who have suffered from COVID-19.
What Causes COVID-19-Related Hair Loss?
As previously mentioned, telogen effluvium is a condition that can lead to hair loss after an illness. This condition causes a shorter growth phase and makes it so that more hair is lost during the shedding phase. Telogen effluvium often occurs between 3-4 months after the body undergoes stress, lasting between 3-6 months. The good news is that if this is the cause for your hair loss after you’ve had COVID, it will typically resolve itself without requiring any treatment.
However, telogen effluvium can also be caused by a hormonal imbalance during COVID. This is particularly true when you consider the high levels of emotional and physiological stress caused by COVID. In this case, it can be helpful to have hormone treatments to overcome this issue.
But telogen effluvium isn’t the only cause of COVID-19-related hair loss. It could also be caused by a condition known as post-COVID thyroiditis. COVID has been found to have lasting effects on the body’s various systems, and the thyroid is no exception. COVID-19 has been shown to cause inflammation, which can impact the thyroid. This causes the thyroid to produce too much hormone in the body. With elevated levels of thyroid hormone, hair loss can occur.
Post-COVID Thyroiditis Symptoms
How do you know if you have post-COVID thyroiditis? Some symptoms to look for include the following:
- Night sweats
- Hot flashes
- Heart palpitations
- Sweating
- Weight loss
- Hyperactivity
- Insomnia
- Thyroid pain (pain located in the front of your neck)
If you suffer from post-COVID thyroiditis, you will need treatment to recover from this condition. Treatment for this condition is usually a hormone-based treatment.
According to studies, there are a variety of other potential causes of COVID-related hair loss. Other conditions include arieata and androgenetic alopecia.
Can Hormone Treatments Help with COVID-19-Related Hair Loss?
Hormone treatments can be beneficial in treating COVID-related hair loss, significantly when the hormones are impacted and causing this issue. There are a couple of different options that you can consider for hormone therapy for weight loss, including minoxidil and finasteride. These are the most commonly used hormone treatments for hair loss in general, but they can be especially useful for those suffering from post-COVID hair loss.
Minoxidil
One option to consider is minoxidil. This option is most commonly known for its use in the hair growth treatment of Rogaine. This hormonal treatment is typically used in its foam or liquid form, which you would apply to your scalp as prescribed by a medical professional. Usually, this treatment option is used for people who suffer from male or female pattern baldness. Minoxidil is most effective when you take this product as soon as you notice any hair loss. You don’t necessarily need a prescription for this treatment, but it is recommended to discuss using this product with your doctor before you begin this regimen.
Finasteride
Another treatment option to look at includes finasteride. Commonly known as Propecia, this is a hormone treatment that is widely used for treating alopecia and male pattern baldness. It can not only stop alopecia from getting worse, but it can also be used to stimulate the growth of new hair. This hormone works by preventing the body from converting testosterone into DHT. DHT is a hormone that is a known culprit for damaging men’s hair follicles. You will need this hormone to get a prescription from your doctor.
While those hormone treatments are the most commonly used for COVID-related hair loss and other types of hair loss, they aren’t the only hormone treatments available to you.
Consult with a Doctor
If you are concerned about your hair loss, especially with COVID, you should speak to your doctor as soon as possible. It would help if you considered asking your doctor for a thyroid panel, which can determine whether you are suffering from post-COVID thyroiditis. Getting additional testing done to check your hormones can also be a good idea since other types of hormonal imbalances can cause hair loss. Having this information can help determine what your condition is caused by so that you can get the correct treatment for your COVID-related hair loss. This will help you stop the problem from getting worse and help you start regrowing your hair.
Conclusion
There has been a correlation between getting COVID and experiencing hair loss. Anytime your body experiences any physiological stress, there is a risk of experiencing hair loss due to telogen effluvium. However, this isn’t the only potential cause of hair loss after COVID. COVID could also cause hair loss due to a condition known as post-COVID thyroiditis. The good news is that you can overcome these conditions to prevent and even potentially reverse hair loss with patients and the right treatments.
Are you ready to tackle your hair loss and grow the healthy hair you deserve? Contact EVOLVE patient care today!
