Acute Telogen Effluvium in Patients Recently Infected with SARS-CoV-2

In a study conducted from March 2020 to October 2020, 27 patients recently diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection developed acute telogen effluvium, a form of temporary hair loss. The median time of increased hair loss since SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosis was 10 weeks. However, in 33.3% of cases (9 patients), hair loss occurred early, within a latency period of 3 weeks or less. The resolution of telogen effluvium was documented in 59% of cases (16 patients) with a median duration of hair loss of 24.5 days. The researchers hypothesized that viral cytopathic effects and inflammatory or immune responses may affect hair follicles and explain hair loss and trichodynia (scalp pain). This was the first comprehensive collection of patients with acute telogen effluvium following SARS-CoV-2 infection.