Gone with the wind: Doctors reveal hair loss is the new post-Covid complication

The second wave of pandemic might be at rest, but the underlying health ailments are not. Problems like recurrent skin allergies, rashes, dry eyes, weakness and fatigue are some of the commonly reported post Covid-19 complications, along with another disturbing complication of large volumes of hair loss.

There has been a sharp rise in the number of patients complaining of hair loss post Covid-19. Reaction to stressors, nutritional deficiency and inflammation due to Covid-19 are some of the noted reasons. Losing hair can be worrisome and emotional for most people. It is due the stress and inflammatory reactions caused by the viral illness that patients who have recovered from Covid-19 are observing an increased level of hair loss.

Dr Shahin Nooreyezdan, Senior Consultant, Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi said, “We have seen a two-fold rise in the number of patients complaining of problems related to hair loss. Post Covid-19 inflammation has been a major contributor here. The deficiencies caused by a compromised nutritional intake, sudden changes in weight, hormonal disturbances and reduced vitamin D and B12 levels are some of the major reasons for the large volumes of hair loss post Covid-19. “


It is usually experienced by patients approximately after 30 days of the recovery, but in some patients it has been observed during the time of Covid-19 too. Various deficiencies caused by change in dietary habits, fever during the infection, stress of suffering from the virus, weight loss, associated anxiety, sudden hormonal changes and persistent post Covid-19 inflammatory reactions are some of the many reasons for this unexpected temporary hair loss.

Stop the fall
Dr Kuldeep Singh, Senior Consultant Cosmetology and Plastic Surgery, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi adds, “The hair loss post Covid-19 is temporary in nature and is due to a condition called Telogen Effluvium. It is a resultant factor of the shock that the body sustains after suffering from fever and other symptoms during Covid-19. Normally a person can lose up to 100 hair per day, but due to Telogen Effluvium it can increase up to 300-400 hair per day.”

As a recommendation, patients during their post Covid-19 recovery should consume a nutritious diet along with natural edible sources of vitamins and iron. There are two reasons to it, as iron deficiency can further accelerate the hair loss, and consumption of a protein rich and balanced diet can itself be a solution for reducing temporarily witnessed hair fall.

Some other common hair care solutions that can be administered to avoid an excessive hair loss are; use of mild, paraben and sulphate free shampoos, keeping a close check on the itchy and flaky scalp, refrain from oiling and massaging the scalp, using a wide tooth comb and seeking immediate medical intervention in case of development of bald patches and getting huge volumes of hair fall.

“To combat this temporary hair loss, people should not stress, engage in meditation, let recovery and recuperation take its own course of time, eat healthy, take natural nutritional supplements, avoid heat and chemicals for hairstyling and refrain from following a sedentary lifestyle,” adds Dr Nooreyezdan.