Whether you had the virus or not, COVID-19 has affected all of our lives in some way. Illnesses such as this one can often lead to hair shedding thanks (but no thanks) to a number of different reasons. According to various news sources, 25% to 65% of COVID-19 survivors are experiencing hair loss or shedding. Here at Zenagen, our inquiries about hair loss due to illness have increased, as well. We’ve seen a 30% increase of clicks for hair loss in general, and a 120% increase in searches specifically about hair loss after illness. Even those who haven’t had the virus, but have experienced stressful life changes since the pandemic, are prone to hair shedding due to stress.
Stress
Stress is a big factor relating COVID-19 and hair loss. Not only are people stressed about contracting the virus, but any change in your daily routine can throw off your hormone levels. The instant and complete 180 degree shift to working from home and staying isolated was a shock to our system and can induce immediate thinning and shedding of hair.
Hair loss due to stress is known as telogen effluvium. Telogen effluvium causes the hair cycle to become prematurely pushed into the resting stage (telogen). Hair loss from stress generally doesn’t begin until weeks, or even months after the stressful event (in this case Covid).
Usually we shed around 100 hairs a day, however, when you're stressed, your body becomes extremely sensitive to inflammation. Inflammation is one of the main causes of hair loss and can increase shedding of up to several hundred hairs a day. A big issue is that hair loss itself often creates more stress which then leads to more hair loss. It’s a vicious cycle that is difficult to get out of without some mental and physical help.
Fever
Your body having a fever, especially a high-grade, is also another cause for telogen effluvium. Like we all know by now, fever is a very common symptom of Covid-19. Just like stress, fever causes hair follicles to be pushed prematurely into the telogen phase. This is due to the physical stress that your body takes on when fighting a virus. Your body is heating up and working overtime to kill a virus when you are experiencing a fever, therefore causing a physical toll on your overall health. This causes an increase in hair shedding beginning usually around two to three months after you experience a fever. The good news is that the hair loss caused by fevers are usually temporary and don’t cause noticeable bald spots, just noticeable thinning and shedding.
Drug Side Effects
It is common for hair loss to be a side effect of using steroids or other drugs used to treat COVID-19. Some common drugs that are prescribed for COVID-19 that list hair shedding as a possible side effect, include remdesivir and steroids such as dexamethasone and prednisone. The easy fix for this one would be to quit taking steroids. However, if that is not possible, then adding Zenagen Revolve into your routine is a simple step to prevent shedding.
How to Prevent COVID-19 Hair Loss
The good news about hair shedding from any of these causes, is that most of the time it's only temporary, lasting around six to nine months. However, it's not a bad idea to take precautions by adding products into your hair care routine that will prevent shedding. Zenagen Revolve is the perfect solution. Revolve is a simple 2 step shampoo and conditioner treatment that combats hair shedding and loss. If you are experiencing shedding, or fear that you might be prone to it, start working Revolve into your routine. It’s vegan and cruelty free and only takes 5 minutes every other day!
For more information on COVID-19 hair loss check out the article our founder did with Modern Salon here.
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