Covid-19 Might Make You Lose Your Hair, According To Study

Patients who experience acute telogen effluvium will lose as much as 50 percent of their hair.

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Long-term side effects following Covid-19 infection have caused many devastating symptoms, from loss of taste and smell to brain fog and fatigue.

Hair loss has also been reported as a common symptom.

According to a report by the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD), Covid-19 infection is now a frequent and a common cause of acute telogen effluvium.

Acute telogen effluvium is a non-scaring hair loss, usually occurs 3 months after the stressful event that causes hair shedding, and lasts up to 6 months.

The hair loss has been linked to the stress and trauma of battling Covid-19.

Patients who experience acute telogen effluvium may notice clumps of hair falling out during their daily combings or while washing their hair in the shower.

Many people are unaware about the relation between this infection and this pattern of hair loss which affects former Covid-19 patients.

Typically, Covid-19 patients will show symptoms of fever and cause more hair loss than usual.

Once healed, the hair regrowth phase begins but at the same time, more hair falls out (telogen) than the hair grows.

The hair loss will start to show symptoms around two to three months after the fever or illness.

How hair loss is wrecking lives of Covid patients. Read more about it here: https://t.co/oADtQ6pF8z @lata_MIRROR pic.twitter.com/IXGMdgy8b3
— TOI Plus (@TOIPlus) February 24, 2022

While this side effect could be one of the most alarming, it is short lived in most circumstances

The problem will only last for about six to nine months and the patient will return to normal.

There Is Good News

Iron levels are crucial to reverse the effect of telogen effluvium.

As a solution, you may want to try a shampoo that has a special formulation to combat hair loss, or take vitamin supplements such as Iron (Fe).

You can also boost iron levels naturally through the following:

Reduce sour and salty foods from your diet
Stay away from alcohol
Exercise regularly
Include red grapes and black raisins in your diet

At the same time, it is also recommended to wash your hair carefully to avoid tugging out clumps, and do not blow-dry

Treat other underlying medical issues that might be contributing to the hair loss and consult a dermatologist if needed.

Nourish your nutritional needs, avoid fad diets, stay away from alcohol and avoid environments where people are smoking.

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