Increased hair loss is one of the complications after COVID-19. This problem affects both women and men, and estimates show that it may affect up to a third of healers.
Very intense hair loss - as Prof. Dorota Krasowska, Head of the Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Pediatric Dermatology SPSK1 in Lublin - may affect from one quarter to even one third of patients who suffered from COVID-19, regardless of the course of the infection. It occurs on average in the third month after recovery, in both women and men. "It is quite a distant complication, patients often forget that they were ill" - added Prof. Krasowska.
This condition is not only annoying, but also very stressful: "Patients report that their hair is sticking out in handfuls. They are everywhere: on the pillow, on their clothes. They cannot even touch them, because they remain in their hands" - described the professor .
The expert emphasized that "especially for women it is a very embarrassing and stressful problem, so they simply report it more often to doctors to help them".
When asked why we observe hair loss after COVID-19, she replied that it was mainly caused by the infection itself. “Such a risk factor is fever and very strong stress associated with high concerns for one's own he alth and life. Under their influence, the hair follicles atrophy "- explained the head of the SPSK1 Dermatology Clinic in Lublin.
"Fortunately, this is the type of hair loss that occurs in the telogen mechanism, i.e. the one in which the hair falls out naturally. regeneration, but it depends on many factors "- emphasized Prof. Krasowska.
The expert added that some women and men suffer from androgenic hair loss, which is dependent on hormones. She pointed out that COVID-19 will greatly increase hair loss caused by other mechanisms. The basic treatment of hair loss is to supplement with vitamins and supplements due to the lack of iron. As the professor said, it is usually not enough, which is why the team of the Clinic of Dermatology and Venereologyand Pediatric Dermatology SPSK1 in Lublin offers patients a special light therapy. "These are LED lamps, the waves of which reach up to 6 mm deep into the skin, where the hair follicles are located. They stimulate the growth of the hair follicle, its regeneration and better blood supply. We invite patients to irradiation in ten cycles, usually once a week. Indeed, already. after several irradiations, we can observe a gradual stop of intense hair loss in patients "- emphasized Prof. Dorota Krasowska.