Evaluation of Patients with Telogen Effluvium During the Pandemic: Are Monocytes Responsible for Post COVID-19 Telogen Effluvium?

February 2022 in “ Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology ”

Sema Koç Yıldırım, Ece Erbağcı, Neslihan Demirel Öğüt

telogen effluvium non-scarring hair loss COVID-19 hair pull test acute telogen effluvium vitamin supplement monocytes white blood cell TE hair loss acute TE

TLDR Monocytes might be linked to hair loss after COVID-19.

This observational cohort study from June to November 2021 involved 181 patients with telogen effluvium (TE), a common type of non-scarring hair loss. The study found that 35.4% of these patients had been diagnosed with COVID-19 before the onset of hair loss, with the median duration of hair loss development being 2 months post-COVID-19 diagnosis. Additionally, 64.1% of patients with a previous COVID-19 infection tested positive in the hair pull test, and the rate of acute TE and vitamin supplement use was significantly higher in this group. The study also found a significant difference in the median monocyte count (a type of white blood cell) between patients with and without a previous COVID-19 infection, suggesting that monocytes may play a crucial role in post-COVID-19 TE. The study concludes that a history of COVID-19 should be considered in patients diagnosed with TE, and further research is needed to understand the role of monocytes in COVID-19 induced hair loss.

View this study on onlinelibrary.wiley.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

18 / 18 results

research Evaluation of Patients with Telogen Effluvium During the Pandemic: Are Monocytes Responsible for Post COVID-19 Telogen Effluvium?

4 citations, February 2022 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

Monocytes might be linked to hair loss after COVID-19.

research COVID-19 Induced Telogen Effluvium

22 citations, October 2021 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

COVID-19 may cause temporary hair loss in some people.

research Characteristics of Telogen Effluvium in COVID-19 in Western Iran (2020)

7 citations, September 2021 in “Anais Brasileiros De Dermatologia”

COVID-19 can cause temporary hair loss, often starting around 7-8 weeks after recovery, with factors like Vitamin D deficiency, other diseases, medication, and stress potentially contributing.

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

25 citations, August 2021 in “Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -)”

COVID-19 infection can significantly cause temporary hair loss.

Trichodynia and Telogen Effluvium in COVID-19 Patients: Results of an International Expert Opinion Survey on Diagnosis and Management

research Trichodynia and Telogen Effluvium in COVID-19 Patients: Results of an International Expert Opinion Survey on Diagnosis and Management

39 citations, August 2021 in “JAAD International”

COVID-19 patients often experience hair loss and scalp pain, which may be related to the severity of their infection and treatment drugs.

research Time of Onset and Duration of Post-COVID-19 Acute Telogen Effluvium

32 citations, July 2021 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Hair loss from COVID-19 usually starts around 45 days after infection and lasts about 47.5 days.

research Pathobiology Questions Raised by Telogen Effluvium and Trichodynia in COVID-19 Patients

18 citations, April 2021 in “Experimental Dermatology”

COVID-19 may cause hair loss and scalp pain due to inflammation and changes in hair follicle receptors, but these symptoms typically resolve in 2 to 4 months.

research Race, Ethnicity, and Comorbidities Are Critical Factors in the Diagnosis of Telogen Effluvium During the COVID-19 Pandemic

7 citations, April 2021 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Hair loss (telogen effluvium) cases rose during the pandemic, especially in Hispanic and non-White groups, and were linked to other health issues and COVID-19.

research Telogen Effluvium Associated with COVID-19 Infection

44 citations, January 2021 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

COVID-19 may cause hair loss due to infection stress or treatments.

research Telogen Effluvium After SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Series of Cases and Possible Pathogenetic Mechanisms

28 citations, January 2021 in “Skin appendage disorders”

COVID-19 may cause early hair loss similar to classic temporary hair loss, with further research needed.

research A Surge in the Incidence of Telogen Effluvium in Minority Predominant Communities Heavily Impacted by COVID-19

14 citations, December 2020 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

More people, especially Hispanic/Latinx, in certain NYC communities experienced temporary hair loss during the COVID-19 pandemic.

research SARS-CoV-2-Induced Telogen Effluvium: A Multicentric Study

51 citations, November 2020 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

COVID-19 infection may cause significant hair loss, but full hair recovery is likely without special treatment.

research Telogen Effluvium Related to Post Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Clinical Aspects and Our Management Experience

35 citations, November 2020 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

Severe COVID-19 may cause hair loss, and doctors recommend supplements and topical treatments to manage it.

research Prolonged and Late-Onset Symptoms of Coronavirus Disease 2019

88 citations, October 2020 in “Open Forum Infectious Diseases”

Some people who recover from COVID-19 continue to have symptoms like fatigue and cough for over 120 days, and some experience hair loss about 59 days after getting sick.

research Relative Changes in the Pattern of Diseases Presenting in Dermatology Outpatient Clinic in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic

43 citations, July 2020 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a clinic in Turkey saw fewer patients but more cases of certain skin conditions, possibly linked to the virus and stress.

research Telogen Effluvium: A Review of the Literature

40 citations, May 2020 in “Cureus”

The conclusion is that treatments for Telogen Effluvium exist, but standard treatment guidelines are needed.

research Traditional Anticoagulants and Hair Loss: A Role for Direct Oral Anticoagulants? A Review of the Literature

31 citations, January 2016 in “Drugs - Real World Outcomes”

Some new oral anticoagulants may also cause hair loss and might not be better than traditional ones for preventing hair loss.

research Interleukin-1β Is Differentially Expressed by Human Dermal Papilla Cells in Response to PKC Activation and Is a Potent Inhibitor of Human Hair Follicle Growth in Organ Culture

38 citations, March 1997 in “Journal of interferon & cytokine research”

IL-1β inhibits human hair follicle growth.

Related Community Posts Join

6 / 417 results

community The Real Cause Of Androgenetic Alopecia

in Research/Science 671 upvotes 1 month ago

Androgenetic alopecia is caused by DHT affecting hair growth. Finasteride and minoxidil are used to manage hair loss by blocking DHT and promoting hair growth.

community I’ve read multiple times that Fin increases hair quality… NOT for me!

in Treatment 97 upvotes 1 year ago

A user has been on finasteride for 6 months and feels their hair quality has worsened, experiencing more hair loss and scalp irritation. They are considering seeing a dermatologist, while others suggest the issue might be unrelated to finasteride, possibly due to deficiencies or other conditions.

community I’ve been on dutesteride and oral minoxidil for two years now and I’ve only lost ground…

in Treatment 42 upvotes 10 months ago

A user on dutasteride and oral minoxidil for two years reports worsening hair loss and is seeking advice. Suggestions include consulting a professional for underlying causes, acknowledging that treatments don't work for everyone, and considering dosage adjustments or additional treatments.

community C’est terrible - at my wits end

in Female 443 upvotes 1 year ago

A 29-year-old woman is experiencing gradual hair thinning since age 15, suspects Androgenic Alopecia, and has tried 5% minoxidil with little success. She has purchased various hair loss treatments including minoxidil, dutasteride, finasteride, and spironolactone, but is cautious about starting them due to potential interactions with her ADHD medication.

community DUPA VS. FAPD, which is more treatable? Which is worse?

in Research/Science 8 upvotes 2 weeks ago

DUPA is considered more treatable than FAPD, as FAPD involves scarring that prevents hair regrowth. The user has started treatment with oral dutasteride and minoxidil, hoping for better results than previous treatments.

community Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

in Research 692 upvotes 4 months ago

Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

Similar Research

5 / 1000+ results

research Recent Advances in Understanding of the Etiopathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Management of Hair Loss Diseases

May 2023 in “Journal of Clinical Medicine”

New understanding and treatments for hair loss are improving, but more research is needed.

research A Cross-Sectional Study on Post-Coronavirus Disease Hair Loss at a Tertiary Care Hospital

October 2023 in “Dermatology practical & conceptual”

Many patients experienced hair loss after COVID-19, with women affected more, starting on average 49 days post-infection.

research Burden of Post-COVID-19 Hair Loss Among Older Adults in Vietnam

December 2023 in “Y Dược học”

Older adults in Vietnam often experience hair loss after COVID-19, especially women, singles, and those hospitalized.

research Impact of Stem Cell-Based Therapy and Platelet-Rich Plasma in Hair Loss and Telogen Effluvium Related to COVID-19

July 2023 in “Regenerative Therapy”

Stem cell and platelet-rich plasma therapies show promise for COVID-19 related hair loss, but more research is needed.

research Telogen Effluvium and Trichodynia in Different Severity Groups of Post COVID-19 Patients

July 2022 in “JNGMC”

Hair loss after COVID-19 is common, starts sooner in severe cases, and often comes with scalp pain.