Clinical Characteristics of Telogen Effluvium Induced by COVID-19 Infection: Integrative Review

January 2023 in “ Revista CPAQV - Centro de Pesquisas Avançadas em Qualidade de Vida ”

Raquel de Souza Mota, Alexandre Braga Gomes, Arthur Henrique Silva da Fonseca, Nadine Vitore Barros Chaves Costa, Ana Viviane Herculano Santiago Silva, Lucas Pinto de Oliveira, Laura da Silva Nascimento, S. Santana, Andréa Cristina Vale de Souza Pereira, Tereza Cristina dos Reis Ferreira

Telogen Effluvium COVID-19 hair loss hair density follicular units hair thickness

TLDR COVID-19 can cause intense hair loss in women, usually resolving in 1 to 4 months.

This integrative review investigated the clinical characteristics of Telogen Effluvium (TE) induced by COVID-19 infection. The study was based on a qualitative analysis of 13 selected articles from a total of 179. It found that TE was predominantly diagnosed in women and was characterized by intense hair loss, reduced hair density, and empty or single-hair follicular units. Some cases also showed decreased hair thickness and difficulty in bending the hair. The average onset of TE was 2 months post-infection, with resolution occurring between 1 to 4 months.

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