A Hair Loss Pandemic: 19 Cases of COVID-19 Induced Telogen Effluvium

The study examined 19 patients, 95% female with an average age of 56, who experienced telogen effluvium (TE), a form of hair loss, after a COVID-19 infection. The hair loss occurred 2.73 months on average post-infection, ranging from 2 weeks to 6 months. The study found that TE can occur after both severe and mild COVID-19 infections, possibly due to the inflammatory response to the virus, stress, or treatment medications. The study also noted that TE is more common in females and that even patients who had not been hospitalized for COVID-19 can experience TE. The study suggests that physicians should screen for a history of COVID-19 in TE patients and provide regular follow-up and psychological support. Future research could investigate the pathogenesis of COVID-induced TE and the relationship between the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and the onset of TE.