Covid infection and hair loss. It is real. Journal time!

Posted on January 10, 2023
Any stressor can cause hair loss. You usually see it about 6 months after. Covid is different as it causes hair loss more quickly – around 2-3 months after infection. This hair loss is ONLY SEEN WITH LIVE INFECTION. Not the vaccine. The fancy doctor name for it is “telogen effluvium.”

This was a journal article out of Journal of Medicine and Life, published May 2022. “Prevalence of telogen effluvium hair loss in COVID-19 patients and its relationship with disease severity.”

This article was full of interesting tidbits:

In their discussion they state TE can occur as a result of medications as well- hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, or other drugs used in COVID-19 treatment.

My thoughts?

I see this in patients who had mild covid infections and took no medicines. I think it is interesting that many of the studies show a higher prevalence in women. As time goes on, we will figure out more. My advice though is for those of you who had covid, if 2-3 months out you notice increased hair loss, jump on it. See my page for advice HERE.


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