Living through COVID-19 has taught us to expect the unexpected. The virus upended lives and made many aspects of our lives that used to be predictable, unpredictable. Whether or not you have had COVID, the pandemic has been a collectively stressful and traumatic experience.
After patients who contracted COVID began recovering, some noticed hair loss in the months following their sickness. It is now a fairly common side effect. This hair loss is caused by excessive hair shedding, also known as telogen effluvium, which occurs in the “resting” phase of the hair growth cycle. Hair detaches from the scalp at a higher rate than normal and some report clumps of hair on their pillows or their hairbrushes.
At Daniel Alain, we are in the business of making sure everyone has hair they love. So when you start to notice more of your hair coming out, you may be worried. However, hair shedding after COVID is completely normal. In this article, we’re going to investigate why so many COVID patients experienced excessive hair shedding. By the end of this article, you’ll understand how COVID can increase hair fall.
Serious Illness Increases Hair Shedding
While it may seem like hair shedding is a symptom of COVID, it’s actually a common symptom of anyone who’s experienced severe illness. Generally, high fevers that go along with getting seriously sick trigger excessive hair shedding. One of the tell-tale signs of COVID is a fever.
However, you may not notice your hair shedding while you have the fever or even a few weeks after you’ve recovered from the fever. Typically, after serious sickness, hair shedding doesn’t start until 2-3 months after developing the illness. Hair shedding caused by a COVID fever is often lumped in as a symptom of long COVID. Despite this correlation, there is no evidence that the COVID virus itself is to blame for excessive hair shedding. Rather, any serious illness can cause hair shedding, and, considering COVID can be very serious, this hair shedding is not necessarily a unique COVID side effect.
Hair Can Shed Even Without High Fevers
Perhaps you got COVID but only had mild to no symptoms. In this case, you may believe that COVID is indeed to blame for your hair shedding. COVID, even in those who are asymptomatic, is a virus, and knowing you have COVID can be an extremely stressful event. Even if you never got COVID, you may notice your hair falling out more. Stress, especially prolonged emotional or physical stress, can trigger excessive hair shedding.
Living through lockdowns, conflicting messages, and trying to live a cautiously normal life is extremely stressful. While COVID may have been a trigger for hair shedding, whether through physical illness or emotional stress, there is no definitive evidence that the virus itself is a unique contributor to hair shedding.
The good news, amidst all of this, is that most hair shedding will lighten or stop 4-6 months after it starts. A majority of the hair shedding associated with telogen effluvium is reversible and resolves itself over time. If you notice hair loss continuing after about 6 months of shedding, then it’s a good idea to speak to your doctor to make sure there’s nothing else going on.
Can I Stop Excessive Hair Shedding?
After reading this article, you now know that an uptick in hair shed isn’t necessarily caused by the COVID virus, but rather the associated illness and stress that goes along with living in a turbulent and unpredictable time. Aside from following safety protocols to avoid getting sick, it’s important to focus on activities that will help reduce stress. Ensuring you’re eating well and taking care of yourself can help reduce excessive hair fall.
While some hair shedding is normal, too much of it is distressing. Here at Daniel Alain, we want everyone to love their hair, whether it's their natural, biological hair, or a high-quality human hair wig. We also care about educating our customers and giving them the tools they need to have the hair they want.
If you’re concerned about the amount of hair you notice in the drain, consider adding INTACT into your styling routine. INTACT is our patented hair shedding treatment that is shown to reduce shedding by up to 77% after the first use. INTACT works to strengthen your hair by constricting muscles around hair follicles to help keep it in place. It’s easy to use. Massage INTACT into the scalp 30 minutes before your usual shower routine, then proceed with styling as usual. You’ll notice fuller, healthier hair and less falling out. Buy INTACT to help reduce excessive hair shedding and keep your confidence as well as your hair on your hair.
