Can COVID-19 Cause Hair Loss?

Anecdotal reports and recent studies have shown that people who have had COVID-19 and its variants are experiencing hair loss for months after recovering from the virus. If you recently recovered from COVID-19 and are concerned that your hair seems to be thinning, or if you have noticed bald patches or increased shedding in the shower, on your pillow, or while brushing your hair, don’t panic. Read on to learn about the complexities of COVID-related hair loss and solutions to help restore your hair to health.    

Does COVID-19 Cause Permanent Hair Loss?  

Anecdotal reports from recovering patients, including celebrities like Alyssa Milano, have been stirring up feelings of unease for people who have dealt with COVID-19 and are worried about thinning hair as a result. However, hair loss is a complicated health issue that affects both men and women and can be due to a variety of factors including genetics, lifestyle changes, and of course, illnesses such as COVID. It may reassure you to know that according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, the hair loss people are experiencing after having COVID-19 is most likely temporary, fever-induced hair shedding. This is known as telogen effluvium and occurs when a fever interferes with the three stages of hair growth, causing more hair to enter the shedding phase at the same time. Most people will notice this happening two or three months after having COVID-19, with normal hair growth returning after this time period. 

Possible Solutions for COVID-19 Hair Loss 

For now, it appears that this shedding may be temporary, with the hair returning to normal growth in time. To encourage a return to health for both your hair and scalp, you can try these at-home strategies:    

Scalp Care

Caring for the hair and scalp properly by cleansing, exfoliating, and using gentle massage can encourage new growth and less breakage where hair strands have been weakened from illness.  

Honey

Honey has a number of benefits for hair care, and using products that contain honey or applying a DIY hair mask can promote healthy hair. 

Oils

Dehydration is often a side effect of illness, and oils can be used to infuse the hair with moisture and protect it from further damage.  

Hair Masks

DIY hair masks and scalp scrubs incorporating honey, essential oils, and other ingredients can improve circulation in the scalp to encourage hair growth and improve the appearance of the hair. 

Hair Restoration Treatments for Hair Loss With NeoGraft^®  

If you’re concerned that your hair loss is more severe, permanent, or continues long after you have COVID-19, then it may be time to consider a hair restoration procedure. Hair loss affects far more than just your appearance. In many cultures, a full head of hair denotes not only good health, but also social status, youth, and beauty. In men, hair loss takes such a huge bite out of confidence that it has been shown to affect self-perception and interpersonal relationships—for women it’s no different. According to one study by the American Academy of Dermatology, 40% of women will experience noticeable hair loss by the age of 40, and 50% of men begin to experience hair loss as early as age 18-25. It isn’t difficult to imagine the toll this can take on self-esteem. Therefore, hair restoration can bring back more than just your hair—it also restores confidence.   

Venus Concept has two state-of-the-art hair restoration devices leading the market today: NeoGraft^®  and ARTAS^®.  

The NeoGraft^® automated system is ideally designed for women experiencing permanent hair loss. Instead of cutting linear grafts with a scalpel, which comes with a risk of scarring, a highly specialized pneumatic arm extracts hairs by the follicle in small groupings of 1-4 hairs, and then implants them in the area where more hair growth is desired. The newly implanted hair follicles continue the natural hair growth cycle and results improve each week, with full realization at 9-12 months post-procedure. The procedure is minimally invasive, less painful, leaves no linear scarring, and requires very little in terms of recovery or aftercare. The transplanted hair will look natural, grow at the same rate as the surrounding hair, and should last for life. To hear about the life-changing transformation a NeoGraft^® procedure can have first-hand, check out this video following Jessi’s journey.  

For men suffering hair loss and male pattern baldness, the ARTAS iX™ Robotic Hair Restoration System makes hair restoration procedures swift and seamless. During an ARTAS iX™ treatment, Artificial Intelligence software analyzes and selects appropriate grafts from the donor area, and then identifies and develops optimal recipient sites while simultaneously implanting each harvested graft. At the same time, the device protects your existing healthy hair, thereby maintaining a more natural appearance in both the donor site and the recipient area. The procedure is minimally invasive, less painful, leaves no linear scarring, and requires very little in terms of recovery or aftercare. The newly implanted hair follicles continue the natural hair growth cycle and results improve each week, with full realization at 9-12 months post-procedure. Check out Cameron Hamilton’s hair restoration journey to see first-hand what it’s like to get the procedure.  

Hair restoration is one of the most sought-after cosmetic procedures for its proven safety and results. Use the search field below to find a provider near you, and start your hair restoration journey today.