Have you noticed more hair loss during COVID times? Add that to the list of Signs of the Pandemic Times. In fact, searches for hair loss information jumped 25% during the pandemic and remained higher than searches for loss of taste or smell.

There are several reasons why hair loss concerns have been on the rise...

IF YOU HAVE HAD COVID-19

COVID-related hair loss has been an important topic among dermatologists. Dr. Antonella Tosti, Professor of Dermatology at the University of Miami, presented the latest findings on COVID-19 and Hair Loss at the 2021 virtual American Academy of Dermatology meeting.

Dr. Tosti explained that it is common to experience hair loss, known as Telogen Effluvium, 8 weeks to 3 months after contracting COVID-19. Telogen Effluvium is the form of hair loss when hair follicles suddenly jump from the growing phase to the resting phase in larger-than-normal quantities. It can look like large clumps of hair suddenly coming out in your hands or on your bathroom floor.

Dr. Tosti noted in her presentation:

“Research suggests more than 20% of COVID sufferers, male and female, have an increase in hair loss while recovering from COVID-19. Their hair loss is temporary, but it can be prolonged for 2 – 4 months. It can also be serious - people can lose more than 50% of their hair. COVID-triggered hair loss is not isolated to severe cases. Even those who had mild cases can experience Telogen Effluvium.”

IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD COVID-19

Avoiding COVID-19 does not mean that you have avoided seeing more hair loss during the pandemic. Hair loss can be more noticeable because of…

• Stress. Telogen Effluvium can also be triggered by stress (you can read more about that in this blog article). And who has not felt more stressed during the pandemic? In a recent survey among 400 US women, more than 90% said they have felt as or more stressed during the pandemic than before.
• Time. We have been living a pandemic life for more than a year now. Over that time, some people may have noticed the onset hair changes due to ageing or genetic predisposition. This is not a result of the pandemic, it’s just their time.
• Staying in one place. It is even possible that you notice more hair loss without actually having more hair loss - simply because you see more of the lost hairs. We naturally shed hair throughout the day. During normal times, those hairs fall in your car, on the sidewalk, in your office, while out in the world, as well as in your home. For those spending most of the day at home, the hairs that naturally fall throughout the day are collecting in one location…so it looks like more hairs are falling.

With the transition back to normal life, some of these causes may be resolved. Be patient if your hair is growing back after having a Telogen Effluvium experience! It takes months for the newly regrowing hair to come in. The new growth can look like flyaways until it has enough length to lay down. Treat it kindly during any awkward phases to give it the best chance for a long future.

Perhaps you’re wondering if KeepItAnchored can help with hair lost during the pandemic?

KeepItAnchored will not regrow your new hair, but it can get your new hair off to a stronger start as it naturally grows back. The clinically proven Hair Anchor blend reduces scalp stress by reducing free radicals. That means hair roots are strengthened, the quality of the new hair is better, and a fuller head of hair is in your future.