As the world continues to grapple with COVID-19, more is being discovered about the virus and its symptoms. One of these symptoms is a temporary condition that causes hair loss, known as telogen effluvium. If you have recently contracted COVID-19 and have suddenly started noticing more hair in your shower or on your pillow, it could be due to this condition. Let’s take a closer look at COVID-19 hair loss and why it happens.
What Is Telogen Effluvium?
Telogen effluvium is a form of hair loss caused by physical or emotional stress. This type of hair loss can be sudden and severe, but it is not permanent – so don’t panic! It occurs when the normal growth cycle of the hair follicles is disrupted by a traumatic event such as an illness or major surgery. It can also be caused by a dramatic change in hormone levels due to pregnancy or taking certain medications.
Why Does It Happen?
An illness such as COVID-19 puts the body under a severe amount of stress. This stress leads to inflammation that prematurely pushes the hair cycle into the resting stage, telogen, which causes follicles to shed at a faster rate. Many don’t begin to experience hair loss symptoms from this until after contracting the virus. For example, if someone falls ill with COVID-19, they may start to notice their hair thinning around two months after recovery from the virus. Many are reporting shedding 6-9 months after falling ill. The good news is that there are natural solutions and things that you can do to treat this type of hair loss. You can also be proactive by implementing these into your haircare routine now.
How Can You Treat It?
The best way to treat telogen effluvium is to address the underlying cause – inflammation. A great way to ease and control inflammation is by using a high-quality, plant-based shampoo and conditioner, such as Actiiv Recover. Recover is formulated with natural ingredients that help encourage thicker, fuller hair growth in one shampoo and conditioner system. This is due to several anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as:
- Saw Palmetto: Not only does saw palmetto have unique anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties, but it also works to block the enzyme responsible for the production of DHT, which is the main cause of hair loss in both men and women.
- Aloe Vera: Aloe leaf juice has been at the forefront of anti-inflammation technology for hundreds of years. Aloe contains essential amino acids that nourish the hair and help it retain moisture, but also soothes and protects against scalp irritation.
- Red Clover: We have a custom-designed red clover extraction process unique to Actiiv products which allow for only the highest-quality, most powerful parts of the plant to be used in our award-winning formulas. Red clover targets inflammation to promote scalp health and the growth of thicker, fuller hair.
In addition to using a high-quality, anti-inflammatory shampoo and conditioner, another way to reduce stress-related hair loss is to eat a healthy diet. Look to incorporate foods into your diet that have whole grains, lean proteins, and vitamins (such as Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, and Zinc).
You can also manage your stress by incorporating techniques such as meditation, yoga, deep breathing, journaling, and more.
While experiencing unexplained hair loss due to COVID-19 can be frightening and distressing at first glance, rest assured that it’s typically not permanent and will resolve itself over time when the body has fully recovered from whatever triggered it initially – whether that’s an illness such as COVID-19 or changes in hormones due to medication use or pregnancy. If you are experiencing stress tr Of course, if you are concerned about your hair loss – particularly if you are experiencing other symptoms along with it – it cannot hurt to add a natural solution to your haircare routine like Actiiv Recover.