COVID-19 Infection Is a Major Cause of Acute Telogen Effluvium

The study "COVID-19 infection is a major cause of acute telogen effluvium" involved 563 recovered COVID-19 patients and found that 67% experienced hair loss within 2-3 months after recovery, indicating that COVID-19 is a significant trigger for acute telogen effluvium, a temporary hair loss condition. A subset of 39 patients, aged 22-67 years (mean age 41.3), predominantly female (92.3%), also experienced hair loss post-infection. The exact mechanisms are unclear, but it's suggested that a cytokine storm during infection could damage hair matrix cells, initiating hair loss. The psychosocial impact of the pandemic may also contribute to hair loss. Drugs used for COVID-19 treatment were ruled out as a cause.