Could COVID-19 Make Your Hair Fall Out?

A high temperature, a new, continuous cough, a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste and, perhaps, if top Dermatologists worldwide are to be believed, notable hair loss. That’s right, some of the most renowned Dermatologists across the globe, from New York to London, have noted a surge in patients visiting their clinics and practices, having suffered from hair loss while battling, or after experiencing, COVID-19.

‘One thing that I’ve been seeing as a result of COVID-19, that I’m talking about on US TV this week, is hair loss,’ says top New York Dermatologist, Dr Dendy Engelman. And we’re not just talking about a few strands here and there. ‘I’ve seen patients who have been losing up to half of their hair volume. And it’s not actually a huge leap – every one of us who treats hair loss in the medical space agrees it makes sense. If you have a high fever, generally, that can induce Telogen Effluvium, which is where you’re actively shedding hair. Most people who have COVID-19 have a fever, as with any febrile illness [the medical term used to describe a sudden fever or elevation in body temperature].’

Pair this with the fact that stress levels are at an all-time high, and things start to fall into place. ‘I think this, on top of additional stress – another common hair loss trigger – combined with the lack of access to those who can help, are all exacerbating the issue,’ clarifies Dr Dendy, who goes on to explain that you might not notice hair loss straight away, but perhaps further down the line. ‘The timings are indicative – it can take between three- and six-months post-illness for your hair to shed, not unlike what women experience with post-partum hair loss. It’s not immediate, it’s not the day you have a baby, it can take up to six months. The same applies here, and people are now coming in having lost over half of their hair volume months after illness. It’s distressing – not only have you had to deal with an awful illness, but you now have to deal with this.’

American Actress, Alyssa Milano has experienced COVID-19 induced hair loss, documenting her experience on Twitter. Captioned, ‘Thought I’d show you what #Covid19 does to your hair. Please take this seriously. #WearADamnMask #LongHauler,’ Alyssa shows her followers just how much hair she is losing in one brushing session post-COVID.

‘I just wanted to show you the amount of hair that’s coming out of my head as a result of COVID… as you can see, there is no hair in there [the brush] right now,’ Alyssa begins. After a few strokes of the hairbrush, she reveals a notable number of strands left in the brush and coming out into her hands. ‘One brushing. This is my hair loss from COVID-19. Wear a damn mask.’

Our very own Trinny Woodall too recently took to Instagram to showcase her own experience of COVID-19 induced hair loss:

Trinny captioned her video post: 'Hair loss has been on my mind this week still coming out quite happily I’ve been to the doctor I know that it is a post Covid symptom and it’s three months since I’ve had Covid which is a cycle of hair after stress that can actually shed so this week I’m going to focus on meeting a few good experts and I’ll share with you any interesting things I find out.'

For those experiencing hair loss, Dr Dendy recommends Nutrafol for general hair growth and health. ‘It’s drug free, doesn’t interact with any medication and has a lot of adaptogens to help with stress-mitigation, so people seem to just feel better on it too. I still take it and my baby will be three this year.’ In terms seeing results, it’s important to stick at hair growth options for at least three months. ‘You need to take three-month supply, as this counts as one hair cycle. So yes, it’s like watching paint dry, but it does work,’ assures Dr Dendy. Currently available in the US, you can buy online and pay for international shipping. Two other hair growth brands, available in the UK, that our beauty team love: Viviscal Hair Growth Programme, £29.99 for 30 tablets, and Hair Gain GROW, £34.99 for 60 capsules.

If you think you’re experiencing hair loss as a result of COVID-19, consult your Doctor.

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