Has Covid caused my hair to fall out?

[LionPen]

I'm 27 and fairly healthy but I had covid a month ago and was rather ill, was in bed for two weeks and could barley talk. I believe I've got some long covid symptoms such as complete exhaustion if I do any exercises.

My main concern is that I have noticed my hair has become very thin. Every time I wash or brush my hair hundreds and hundreds of strands fall out. I'm finding my hair all over the house! I haven't found any bald patches but really concerned that I'm not far off from that point.

Obviously I can't go to the gp but I have filled out an online consultation, praying that they have an answer for me.

Has anyone else experienced this?

It can be a sign of thyroid problems - I’d maybe see if you can get your thyroxine levels checked.

It happened to my stepbrother’s girlfriend after Covid - she’s early 30s, I think.

If you google it there are lots of reports of this happening after having COVID.

Yes, it happened to both my DD and me - I was surprised we had any hair left on our heads. But it has settled down again. No bald patches. We both had long covid symptoms as well.

Was also going to suggest thyroid as Ive read thyroid problems can occur after Covid

This can happen after any serious illness. Look up telogen effluvium.

Yes I had lots of hair loss when washing my hair about 2 months after initial illness. It settled down a month later. I too have long Covid symptoms.

This can happen with any viral infection, I lost a lot of hair after I was really unwell with glandular fever in my teens. It does stop eventually but there wasn’t anything that could be done about it. It’s horrible, so sorry OP!

From my layman understanding, if your body ever triggers “fight or flight mode” it directs resources to focus on your survival. Hair is a low priority for survival, so you’ll end up with less nutrients to your scalp. Your hair stays in the resting/falling out growth phase for longer, so you won’t grow your hair or replace lost strands at the normal pace.

My hair loss was triggered by stress (telogen effluvium). I think prolonged illness is a factor too.

Other things to look into are iron and other nutrient levels (vit d etc). Does hair loss run in your family?

Thanks for your replies that has put me at ease a bit. I am quite self conscious and have been worried sick but so glad you have all said that it calms down after a month or two

@LionPen
Have a look at Heathunlocked Thyroid UK they might be able to advise you.

@bluetongue

Yes I had this after a serious illness and lost almost 50% of my hair.

I've been taking Vivascal and other vitamins and my hair has grown back but it has grown back as tight curls. So I have 50% of my head of hair which is poker straight and 50% which is very curly. It always looks like a mess and even if I straighten it the curly parts are so intense it curls up again by the afternoon.

It was nearly two years ago now and I'm still waiting for it to grow back properly and as soon as the regrowth is long enough I'm going to have a salon Keratin treatment done. I'm hoping it will tame the curls/frizz but I know my hair will never be like it once was.

Your body has been through a lot, so research some vitamins to give it a boost but I honestly think you can't do much about it, and please don't worry.

My hair stylist gave me a special hair brush (looked a bit like a tangle teaser) that was specially designed for people on chemo therapy to reduce hair breakage when brushing which helped me a bit too.

Happened to me. I read somewhere it's a result of the high temperature. The constant heat affects the hair follicle. Takes a while but does stop eventually

Same here.

My hair is falling out and thinning generally. I had Covid in May and was deployed to Covid ICU in the 1st wave. I found it incredibly hard and stressful and reckon this last few months have harmed me physically and mentally.

I don't have any bald patches but the texture of my hair has changed and my pony tail has lost about half it's volume, resembling a rat's tail. I no longer use any products or style my hair in any way. In fact, I haven't even combed or brushed it in weeks, I think I would find it too depressing to see how much falls out in one session. I just wash and leave it.

My GP is doing some blood tests to check thyroxine levels (I have diagnosed underactive thyroid and been stable on medication for decades) and vitamin levels. If they are ok, she is willing to investigate further.

I am also post menopausal so I am not sure exactly what is drivung this but it is all very depressing. I feel your pain.

Exactly same thing happening to me, GP said I have long covid as breathing and fatigue is bad but now my hair is coming out in clumps, I have very thick hair but this worried me so much, believe it stops after a few weeks though, fingers crossed 🤞

Ask for tests for anaemia op as well, my hair fell out with very low iron.

I had covid last year and lost loads of hair in the same way as you have - GP sent me for a blood test which revealed lack of folate and vitamin D. I started prescribed tablets in August and the loss is now back to normal levels. Good luck!

Even Boris's hair looks noticeably thinner...

You've all put my mind at rest, thanks so much!

I've got loads of vitamin and supplements on the way and going to push my gp for a blood test.

It seems so silly to be worrying about hair loss in the current climate but it's really thrown me off. Trying my best not to stress to make it any worse.

Yes, this is an after-effect of sustained high temperatures. My very good friend who had Covid has lost about half her hair, but the drop-out rate is slowing now and she has regrowth. I'm glad the comments here have put your mind at rest.

Did you discover what your trigger was?

If you had a fever, you generally lose hair a few months after the fact. I was very ill with flu five years ago and lost a ton of hair and had fatigue for months afterwards.