COVID-19 has left many suffering from long-term effects. Weakness and breathlessness are some of the most common after effects experienced by those who are recovering from the virus, but doctors have also noticed a rise in loss of hair after recovery. Not just that, those unaffected by the virus have still experienced heavy hair loss. So if you are worried sick about all those strands of hair clogging your drain, hold tight, we’ve got something- this is temporary. Your hair loss post-covid is just here for a shorter while, and is definitely manageable. Wanna know how? Keep reading till the end.
What is Telogen Effluvium?
Telogen Effluvium commonly called type II hair loss is temporary in nature. It has recently been observed in COVID-19 patients due to the shock that the body sustains resulting from fever and other symptoms. To understand Telogen Effluvium (TE) or type II hair loss, let us first look at the growth cycle.
Our hair goes through four stages of growth- Anagen (growing), Catagen (resting), Telogen (resting) and Exogen (renewed growth). At any given time, about 85% to 90% of your hair is actively growing i.e. it is in the anagen phase and remaining are in the resting i.e. the telogen phase. A single hair strand stays in the growing phase for two to four years, then rests for about two to four months, and eventually falls out and is replaced by a new hair strand, fascinating isn’t it?
On an average a person loses about 100 hairs a day. But in case of Telogen Effluvium (TE) you may lose as many as 300 hair strands a day, which is evidently a higher number than the normal. In Telogen Effluvium (TE) when someone undergoes any change or experiences shock, more than 30% of the hair enters the telogen phase and hair growth stops. As one single hair strand stays in the telogen phase for two to four months, you may notice sudden hair loss for about two to four months, it may last longer but not more than six months. In very rare cases hairfall lasts for six months to a year and this can negatively affect the growth cycle.
Some of the most common reasons for Telogen Effluvium are surgery, major physical trauma, major psychological stress, high fever, severe infection or other illness, extreme weight loss, sudden change in diet, abrupt hormonal changes, iron deficiency, hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, medication. Given the exhaustive list, you might wonder if this kind of hair loss is restricted to the one experienced post-covid, or it can occur any time of your life. Well, the answer is latter.
Is there a solution?
Now that you know that your hair loss is temporary and not something specifically caused by the virus, allow us to go ahead and tell you that it's manageable. We know that losing a great deal of hair in a short period of time can be scary, but like we said- the condition is temporary. Every strand of hair which was pushed prematurely to the telogen phase will be replaced by a new strand, so take a breath, you aren’t going bald yet!
It is important to get yourself diagnosed if you find yourself seeing bald spots or prolonged hair loss post- covid. We at Traya have been helping covid-19 patients recover from hair loss and improve their overall health. Our free hair test gives you a detailed diagnosis of your hair and scalp health by highlighting the major causes of your hair loss. Based on this analysis our doctors prescribe a detailed plan especially for you. What’s more, we have a free diet plan and hair coaches that constantly support you during your journey.
Our ayurvedic products work impressively in Telogen Effluvium (TE) cases as they help relieve stress, boost metabolism, improve sleep patterns and increase energy levels. Don’t believe it? Look for yourself.
Takeaway
Although, in Telogen Effluvium hair grows back after a couple of months, it does not mean that your internal causes have been remedied. It’s always advised to visit your doctor or take our hair test. You might not need to worry, but not all hair comes back as it was. Hence, it is best to take the necessary measures to reduce hair loss and improve hair health, and who better than us? Give our hair experts a call today!
