Can COVID-19 Cause Hair Loss? If So, Does It Continue Progressing?

"Doctor, I've been losing a lot of hair since I had COVID-19. What if it never recovers?"

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of patients visiting Lee Moon Won Clinic complaining of hair loss has increased noticeably. Even after acute symptoms like high fever and coughing have disappeared, hair loss persisting for several months has become a source of anxiety and stress for many. Let’s look at whether COVID-19 truly causes hair loss and whether this loss will continue, based on scientific evidence.

1. How Does COVID-19 Trigger Hair Loss?

The coronavirus does not directly attack the hair follicles. Rather, hair loss appears as an 'aftereffect' of the extreme physical and mental stress the body undergoes due to the viral infection. The core mechanisms are as follows:

• Telogen Effluvium: When the body experiences severe stress such as high fever, inflammation, or a cytokine storm, it shunts energy away from non-essential activities for survival. During this time, hair follicles in the active growth phase (Anagen) perceive an 'emergency state' and transition into the resting phase (Telogen). Consequently, 2 to 4 months after infection, the hair that transitioned into the resting phase begins to shed all at once.
• Inflammatory Response and Vascular Damage: COVID-19 causes systemic inflammation and can damage the microvessels that supply blood to the follicles. This interferes with the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the follicles, leading to weakened hair.

2. How Many People Experience This, and Is There a Gender Difference?

While reports on the incidence of hair loss after COVID-19 vary by study, it is a common aftereffect experienced by more people than expected. Synthesizing various international studies, it is statistically reliable to estimate that over 50% of those infected experience hair loss. Most studies commonly report a trend where post-COVID hair loss is more frequent in women.

3. Accompanied by Scalp Pain (Trichodynia)

Many patients complain that "the scalp hurts just by combing or touching the hair" along with the hair loss. This is a symptom known as 'Trichodynia' and is reported as one of the aftereffects of COVID-19. It is presumed that the inflammatory response triggering hair loss stimulates nerve endings in the scalp, causing pain or abnormal sensations, and it often appears alongside hair loss.

4. The Most Important Question: Is It Permanent or Recoverable?

Most experts and studies state that hair loss caused by COVID-19 is 'temporary telogen effluvium' and is therefore not permanent. A dermatologist at University of Utah Health explains, "The good news is that most cases of telogen effluvium end after about 3 to 6 months," and adds, "Since the hair follicles themselves are not gone, the hair will eventually grow back."

I also presume that hair loss caused by COVID-19 is 'temporary telogen effluvium.' However, I want to address the realistic issues I observe in clinical practice. 'Stopping the shedding' and 'restoring the hair volume to its original state' can be two different stories. Contrary to the expectation that "hair will grow back because the follicles aren't gone," many patients visit Lee Moon Won Clinic because their hair has not recovered even 2 or 3 years after having COVID-19.

I believe the degree of hair recovery inevitably varies from person to person. Just as the severity of COVID-19 symptoms differs, the aftereffects and recovery capacity also show significant individual differences. In particular, for those who were already experiencing hair loss before infection, COVID-19 can act as a 'trigger' that rapidly accelerates pre-existing conditions. In such cases, even after the impact of the virus disappears, the worsened hair loss may continue to progress.

In conclusion, while the amount of shedding from COVID-19-induced hair loss usually decreases over time, returning to your previous fullness may require individual effort and proactive treatment. If hair loss persists for more than 6 months, if your volume hasn't recovered even 2 to 3 years post-infection, or if new hair is noticeably thin and weak, it is advisable to consult a specialist like myself to begin recovery treatment tailored to your scalp and hair condition.