This section is for the "Follically Challenged".  There are so many conversations and articles on the topic and I want make sure you are getting good information. ​

Does COVID cause hair loss? The short answer is yes! As a clinical trichologist, I have encountered an influx of diffuse shedding concerns from April 2020 to the current day, and there are more and more people sharing their disdain over the lost clumps of hair with the hashtag #covidhairloss.

Let’s see what the connection between COVID and hair loss is and how you should deal with the issue.

Let’s back up a little, and see what happens to the body during periods of illness, stress, and shock. Think of your body as a huge manufacturing plant, producing everything from hormones to excreting waste. When one of the manufacturing lines, in this instance the virus COVID-19, interrupts or disrupts the manufacturing line/the body’s natural equilibrium (homeostasis), the body makes a choice and stops feeding its Z – organs, the ones we can live without, to maintain the main organs – A, such as the heart and lungs.

So, if the energy is being redirected to protect the fundamentals of our inner mechanisms, the Z, or lesser important organs such as skin hair and nails are halted. A bit like turning the lights off at home to save energy! The lights don’t become obsolete, but once they are not needed and the energy is saved, then so be it.

Now you may understand a touch better why hair loss happens when infection, illness or even stress affects the body. Our body is redirecting energy to its main manufacturing needs, aka keeping you breathing and beating. The same hair shedding, or telogen effluvium according to its medical term, happens after childbirth, an operation, or trauma.

If we need to direct energy, hormones or antidotes, in the case of COVID-19, the body will disrupt the balance and direct these to help the A organs fight the cause. This is why the blood analysis and the disruption of the balance that doctors spot in the blood analysis allows determining a correct diagnosis and swift treatment pathway.

Back to shedding, we tend to notice the “shed” around 3 months after people recover from COVID-19. This is due to the hair coming out of its natural growth cycle and slipping out of the little sheaths that grow and protect our hair shafts as they evolve. These hairs that fall out are very likely to already have a new hair growing in this dermal growth pocket, called a follicle.

Everyone is unique and has a different growth cycle, and hairs shed and grow naturally according to a predisposition that is affected by things such as age, and hormones. Because we can have around 100,000 hairs, it’s normally virtually unnoticeable; those fallen hairs are replaced by brand new hairs that grow from the same follicle. Some growth cycles can be as short as a year, some as long as 9 years. You will see this from long you can grow your hair without the very ends or the bottom lengths looking finer than say the mid-length.
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The disruption of the growth cycle due to Coronavirus makes strands come to the shedding phase all at once, this is why losing hair after COVID-19 is quick and abrupt. This hair loss is not permanent, but it is noticeable, and it takes time for new hairs to grow from the follicle. Mind that noticeable hair loss causes much stress, which can further promote stress-related hair loss. This is why it is so important not to panic over post-COVID hair loss. Here is what you should do instead.

If COVID-19 had a high toll on your hair, the key response should be patience, patience, and more patience. Imagine you just have to grow out those bangs or a bad haircut. Hair grows approximately 15cm a year, and some people have slower growth phases, so it’s going to take months to regain the density you have lost.

Try popular hair regrowth methods, but set realistic expectations. No amount of oil from the gods will make it grow quicker than your DNA cell renewal allows, and we certainly can’t clone our hair (no, it’s not that it is not possible today, but still out of reach for the general public). Also, consider getting haircuts more frequently to thicken the areas left finer or go shorter to give back some bounce to your hair.

NUTRITION is another key to growing hair and improving the overall health, your entire manufacturing plant. A well-balanced diet is the cornerstone of all things healthy; supplementation is fine, but it is not a replacement. If you are on a strict diet or have dietary needs or preferences, look for professional guidance on the subject, your body will thank you in the end, and so will your hair.

Let’s not forget that trichologists take the holistic approach to our patients’ needs, and sometimes those needs are lifestyle-induced or environmental effects! For more help and guidance, here is a list of worldwide organizations you can approach to find a trichologist near you:

• World Trichology Society (WTS)
• International Association of Trichologists (IAT)
• The Association of Registered Trichologists (ART)

After all, why not take this time of “hair awareness” and really get some great advice and styling tips from a trichologist and an experienced stylist, especially one that understands the sensitives surrounding hair loss and shedding! 

​Hairdressers in parts of the UK are reporting clients having new allergic reactions, like rashes and burns, to hair dye after contracting coronavirus.

Scientists at Imperial College London are now researching how the disease could be reprogramming our immune system, in a similar way to other illnesses.

The trade body that represents hairdressers and beauticians is warning professionals to carry out additional patch tests to avoid facing legal action.

Gemma suffered a reaction to a patch test despite using the same hair dye for years. She had also recovered from a previous Covid infection. Her salon says it has seen four clients with the same issue since it began compulsory patch tests for all clients.
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Reporter: Frankie McCamley

If there is anything to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic, it's that we are constantly discovering new things about the virus and its associated infection. Now new findings suggest hair loss may be a common long-term health consequence for patients who had severe COVID-19 that required hospitalization.

The findings, published in The Lancet, also suggest women may be at greater risk of suffering from long-term health consequences. 

Previous research has found 1 in 10 people may have persistent health consequences up to three months after their COVID-19 infection has passed. People that have long COVID commonly report symptoms of fatigue, loss of taste and smell, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal, joint, and muscle pains.

The new study confirms that some of those commonly reported long COVID symptoms such as fatigue and joint pains could be considered as primary long-term health consequences of the virus, as their findings showed they were still reported six months after patients hospitalized with COVID-19 had recovered. Furthermore, an additional health concern was revealed: hair loss. 

The study investigated 1,655 patients that had been discharged from the Jin Yin-tan Hospital in Wuhan, China between Jan 7, 2020, and May 29, 2020, after being treated for COVID-19.

Six months later patients were examined again with blood tests, a physical exercise test that consisted of a six-minute walk, and a questionnaire to assess whether they had any long-term symptoms after their COVID-19 experience. 

The results indicated that 63 percent of patients had reported fatigue or muscle weakness, 27 percent reported sleep difficulties, and 22 percent reported they had experienced hair loss during the last six-month period since having COVID-19.

"At 6 months after acute infection, COVID-19 survivors were mainly troubled with fatigue or muscle weakness, sleep difficulties, and anxiety or depression," the authors wrote in the study. However, hair loss was also one of the highest reported symptoms six months on.

It's worth noting that hair loss is not uncommon during infections, and may occur for short periods of time after recovering from a regular cold. The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) explains: "Temporary hair loss is normal after a fever or illness. Fever is a common symptom of COVID-19. A few months after having a high fever or recovering from an illness, many people see noticeable hair loss."

The AAD also says losing hair after infection could continue for up to six to nine months and that this could be made worst by stress, which is prevalent during a pandemic with all the health, social, and economic challenges it presents. Furthermore, worrying about losing hair could cause more stress, which can result in a vicious feedback loop, so learning ways to mitigate stress is important.
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Your hair should return to normal on its own over time, but if you are concerned speak to your health care provider or a dermatologist.

People lose their hair for any number of reasons – hormones, genetics and aging, among others – but in the middle of a pandemic-fueled recession, one factor is taking center stage: Stress.

“Stress certainly can contribute to hair loss because it can affect hormone levels,” says Dr. Patrick Angelos (drpatrickangelos.com), author of The Science and Art of Hair Restoration: A Patient’s Guide.  “Any number of stressful events can lead to a sudden loss of hair, although in those cases the hair typically will grow back over time.”

For more permanent hair-loss concerns, Angelos, a plastic surgeon who specializes in hair restoration, uses robotic treatment to help patients regain their beloved locks. That process involves an advanced, minimally invasive hair transplant system that uses technology driven by artificial intelligence.

“Among the reasons patients consider hair restoration is that they want to get back some of their youthful look and feel better about themselves,” Angelos says. “Helping them accomplish that is one of the great satisfactions I get from being a plastic surgeon.”

But for those who want to keep their hair healthy and full now and who hope to avoid ever reaching the point where they need hair-loss intervention, Angelos offers a few tips:

• Maintain good hair care and hygiene habits. The way you wash your hair could undermine your efforts to prevent hair loss, Angelos says. As you wash, avoid pulling back on your hair because that can put traction on the follicles. “The same goes for combing,” he says. “It’s less stressful on the follicles to wash and comb your hair forward, toward your face, instead of toward the back of your scalp and neck. Also, long hair weighs more, so on its own, it can put more traction on the follicles.” Brushing your hair regularly, however, is good because it massages the scalp and helps improve blood flow and circulation. The condition of your hair should also be in balance – not too oily, not too dry. “Finally, don’t overuse a hair dryer because that can make hair weak and brittle, which can lead to more hair loss,” Angelos says.
• Treat health issues. Hormonal imbalances and other medical conditions such as low thyroid and iron or iodine deficiency can contribute to hair loss, Angelos says. “Avoid overuse of supplements and medications,” he says. “Since supplements such as testosterone, human growth hormone, whey, and DHEA can cause thinning and hair loss, especially avoid excessive use of these.”
• Be aware of your nutritional needs. Some fad diets may have a nutritional impact on hair loss. “It’s really important to eat a healthy balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fat,” Angelos says. He also recommends taking a multivitamin that includes vitamins A, B complex, C, D and E, along with the minerals zinc, iodine and iron, all of which help with hair health.
• Avoid unhealthy environments. The negative health effects of smoking are well known, especially related to lung cancer. But one more reason to avoid smoking, Angelos says, is that it can affect hair loss. In addition to smoking, other environmental factors that can contribute to hair loss include environmental exposures like radiation and air pollution.

When efforts to prevent hair loss fall short, those who prefer to avoid baldness can explore the possibilities that modern science provides.

“Not every patient needs hair transplantation, though,” Angelos says. “Especially when it comes to younger patients, it may be best to start with other options. Since the reasons for hair loss vary from person to person and are unique to their circumstances, a good place to start is by determining the cause of hair loss in the first place, and then go from there.”