Post COVID hair loss: Will it grow back?

Yes. My hair is falling out and I have lost 20 lbs. Still losing! Don’t know what to do. Drs even deny Post Covid symptoms. All in my head! 😢

Hair Loss for the entire 8 months I have had long Covid. 79 year old female. I'm told this is not uncommon.
Wondering: if anyone has lost ALL their hair? If so, how many months was the progression?
Wondering: If anyone has new growth after the loss?
Many thanks
Judy

God bless you Judy. I had Covid last August and the hair loss began 4 months later in December, with January of 2023 being my worst month. I wasn't just shedding hair, it was coming out a lot. It began tapering off in February, but, I still have more shedding than usual. I am noticing new hair coming in. I am not shampooing my hair but once a week, using Pureology Hydrating shampoo (it's expensive but good and a mild shampoo), trying not to wear my hair up a lot as that causes more hair to come out. It's so disheartening as a female to have hair loss. I thought I was going to be bald at one point! I am still seeing hair on my pillow case but not as much. I think Covid does so much to our bodies. It takes time for your hair to grow back completely. We are not the only ones this has happened to since having Covid. I am praying for you right now and I am so sorry.

Have your iron and ferritin levels checked. Either Covid or the Covid vaccine frequently results in low levels and that in turn causes hair loss. In my case, I requested a prescription to have the levels checked not only because of hair loss but breakage about 1-2" from my scalp as well. My doctor prescribed ferrous sulphate and over time there has been some improvement—it's a long process however, and who knows if it'll ever be totally back to "normal."

Yes, my iron levels were fine. My B12 was low and I am still on injections. Covid wipes out a lot of levels in your bloodwork.

I had major hair loss during and post COVID. I started taking marine derived biotin and using Mediceuticals shampoo folligen and conditioner. In addition, working on healthy diet for inflammation. I have lots of new hair growth! The balding spots are all filling back in nicely.

Thank you for the lovely reply. Female hair loss is a different animal from male, and so disheartening. It is comforting go hear of your progress. Hope is lurking in the products you and other responses have suggested. Thanks so much for sharing and taking the time to respond.

Many thanks for the reply. My doctor is working with me to eradicate my long Covid, post Covid symptoms. The suggestion as to iron levels is welcome. Thank you! Was your loss due to Covid or did you experience the loss during long Covid. If during long Covid, do you still have it? I suspect my daily low grade temp is one of the long Covid symptoms that also contributes to hair loss. Although there are many in my circle of acquaintances that have had Covid, there is no one I know with long Covid that I can compare symptoms with - so it was great to find this resource.

I had my one and only Moderna shot in March 2021 and that was followed a couple of days later with a diagnosis of Covid, so I don't really know if the low iron levels was from Covid or the "vaccination." Between one and two months later I began to notice the difference in my hair. Not too long afterward, I visited the doctor and she prescribed the ferrous sulphate (325 mg.). It is now two -years since and while my iron is within the normal range, it is at the lower end and my hair and nails have improved but only a little. In addition, since Covid and/or Moderna shot, I've had shortness of breath—so my guess is that I have "long Covid." Tomorrow I get a stress test because of that SOB. You mention low grade temp., and I don't know how low yours is but mine never gets above 97 degrees (during Covid, however, for one day it was up to 99).

Thank you for the clarification. My temp is 98.6 when I wake up ("normal") and climbs during the day to the 99's, but never above 99.9. I understand this is common in long Covid. Brain fog and general malaise and fatigue are in tandem with temp. Putting up with the symptoms is easier than accepting the fear of complete hair loss.
Vitamin B in the form of Biotin has been prescribed for my hair loss. Nutrifol was suggested by my dermatologist, and 5% minoxidil. Two weeks of those vitamins and topical application of minoxidil has not changed the amount of hair loss. In fact, it seems to have increased.

If there is anyone else out there with LONG COVID and a story of hair loss to tell, please share.
Many thanks to all who have responded
Judy