PEOPLE who contract Covid have been losing their hair months after getting infected, a doctor has warned.
It’s thought that millions of people globally are now suffering with long-Covid and one doctor says hair loss is due to post-inflammation after catching the bug.
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Telogen effluvium (TE) is when a person temporarily experiences hair loss and is usually the result of stress.
When a person contracts Covid their body is placed under stress – this is due both to the virus and physical symptoms such as a cough or loss of taste or smell.
One expert said there are a myriad of issues caused by the virus, that in turn causes their hair to fall out.
Shahin Nooreyezdan, consultant in cosmetic and plastic surgery at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi, said the fact some people also struggle to eat with Covid – can deplete their nutrient reserves – which again could lead to hair loss.
He said: “We have seen a two-fold rise in the number of patients complaining of problems related to hair loss.
“Post Covid-19 inflammation has been a major contributor here. The deficiencies caused by a compromised nutritional intake, sudden changes in weight, hormonal disturbances and reduced vitamin D and B12 levels are some of the major reasons for the large volumes of hair loss post-Covid-19.”
Hair loss is known as one symptom of long-Covid and Dr Shanin said it could last up to three months.
Another expert told International Business Times that the reason hair loss occurs, is because the growth of hair follicles is halted due to the infection.
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Sachin Dhawan, consultant at the Department of Dermatology at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, said: “It pushes the hair into the shedding or dead phase (telogen phase). And the dead hair sheds off after a few weeks automatically.”
The experts explained that people recovering from Covid-19 should try and pay more attention to their diet, in order to supplement any vitamins and minerals that had been lost.
They recommend eating a nutritious diet high in vitamins and iron and supplementing with biotin and amino acids.
This they said, is because an iron deficiency can accelerate hair loss.
What is Telogen Effluvium (TE)
TE is when a person temporarily experiences hair loss.
TE occurs when the number of the follices in the scalp changes.
It usually affects the top of the scalp and in most cases the hair line will not recede if someone experiences TE.
Severe cases of TE will spread to the eyebrows and other parts of the body.
Patients are often diagnosed with TE after a serious illness, a large amount of weight loss or a severe fever.
Doctors have said that this usually occurs if a patient has recently experienced a stressful situation.
It was also reported earlier this year that one in four coronavirus sufferers have experienced hair loss.
An online survey was conducted of 1,500 people who have survived Covid.
The results from the Survivor Corp Facebook group found that 27 per cent of people had experienced some form of hair loss.
This could be hair loss of the scalp, or on other parts of the body such as the eyebrows
If you are experiencing hair loss then you should also avoid using heat styling for your hair as this could put it under further stress.
It was previously revealed that a quarter of Covid patients experienced hair loss in the first six months after being infected.
But the doubling of cases in India suggests that hair loss could be a more common symptom for people who have caught this strain.
Similarly, an online survey of 1,500 people on the Survivor Corp Facebook group, for sufferers of long Covid, found 27 per cent had some form of hair loss since their illness.
Haircare Expert Nicole Petty from Milk + Blush explained what you can do to help your hair grow back.
She said: ” If you’re experiencing hair thinning, then it’s vital that you have a healthy and nutritious diet. The foods you eat have a direct impact on the growth, strength, and volume of your hair.
“In particular, it’s important to consume plenty of protein as the hair follicles are mostly made up of a protein called keratin. So, when an adequate amount of protein is consumed, the hair produces higher levels of keratin, enabling the hair to repair and grow.
“Similarly, ensure you’re eating foods rich in iron, Omega-3, Vitamins A, C, & E, Biotin, Zinc, and Selenium.
“By filling your body with the essential nutrients, you can encourage strong regrowth and prevent future hair loss or weakness.”
Source: Sun
