Self-Reported Hair Loss Following COVID-19: An Observational Study

An observational study conducted in Saudi Arabia with 420 participants who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 found that 78% reported hair loss after contracting COVID-19. The severity of COVID-19 was linked to the severity of hair loss, with hospitalized patients more likely to experience severe hair loss. The onset of hair loss was within 2 to 3 weeks for 29.0% of participants, and within 4 to 8 weeks for 24.8%. The duration of hair loss was 1 to 3 months for 32.6% of patients and 4 to 6 months for 34.8%. About 43.6% reported partial hair regrowth, and 34.5% reported recovery in less than 6 months. The study suggests that the physiological stress of the cytokine storm during acute COVID-19 infection or direct infection of the hair follicle by the SARS-CoV-2 virus may cause the hair loss. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings. The study had several limitations, including its cross-sectional nature, subjective reporting by participants, and a disproportionate sample size with more women than men responding.