Management of Hair Loss After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection: Insight Into the Pathophysiology With Implication for Better Management

May 2022 in “ The Journal of Dermatology ”

Manabu Ohyama, Kiichi Matsudo, Toru Fujita

From the encyclopedia

Alopecia Areata →

autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss

Biotin →

supplement to help with hair texture and quality

cholecalciferol →

Studysummary This narrative review found that post-COVID-19 hair loss, particularly telogen effluvium, poses a significant mental and social burden, with minoxidil potentially aiding recovery, although more clinical research is needed to confirm its effectiveness. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

Hair loss after SARS-CoV-2 infection (HLASCI) is a common long-term symptom of COVID-19, affecting 6% to 28.6% of patients, with Telogen Effluvium (TE) being the most common type. Pre-existing alopecia is a risk factor for COVID-19, and autoimmune alopecia, such as alopecia areata (AA), can worsen due to the virus. The onset of TE after COVID-19 typically occurs after a median of 2 months, lasting for a median duration of 5 months. Oral minoxidil is the most common treatment for hair loss, shown to be effective in 17 studies involving 634 patients for various types of alopecia, including TE and AA. Other potential treatments include biotin or iron supplementation, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory shampoo and lotion, vitamin D3 intake, microneedles, sandalwood, and photobiostimulation combined with microinjection, but these require further high-quality, randomized controlled trials to confirm their efficacy.

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Research cited in this study

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This study suggests that COVID-19 infection may trigger telogen effluvium, a condition of hair shedding, though medication side effects and pandemic-related stress cannot be excluded as contributing factors.

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This study found that oral vitamin D3 therapy significantly improved hair regrowth in women with telogen effluvium in southern Punjab, Pakistan, especially among younger women not using sunscreen but consuming milk or milk protein.

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67 citations , January 2013 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology”

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This study found that a dietary supplement containing L-cystine, medicinal yeast, and pantothenic acid significantly improved hair growth in women with telogen effluvium over six months compared to placebo.

research Effect of Minoxidil on Proliferation and Apoptosis in Dermal Papilla Cells of Human Hair Follicle

149 citations , March 2004 in “Journal of Dermatological Science”

This study found that minoxidil stimulates hair follicle growth by promoting dermal papilla cell survival and activating ERK and Akt pathways, which leads to increased proliferation and reduced cell death.

research Minoxidil: Mechanisms of Action on Hair Growth

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