Hair Loss/Burning Itching Scalp after Covid

Posted by CrazyGranny @shelleyr, Jan 5 1:37pm

The folks here have been so sweet and helpful with my questions, so I'm posing a new concern today. On top of the extreme fatigue and breathing issues, I also developed Rosacea after Covid. I've read that is another strange, but fairly common symptom.

Within the past month though, my hair is starting to fall out and my scalp burns and itches like crazy. It feels almost like my entire head is bruised and tender when I touch it. Then yesterday, I woke up with tiny bumps all over the back of my neck that burn and itch.

This is getting crazy! It's been nearly 2 years since I had Covid and, no matter what I do or what supplements I take, symptoms get worse or new ones pop up. Is anyone else having hair and scalp issues like this?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 15 5:56pm

See related discussions:

- Post COVID hair loss: Will it grow back? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/post-covid-hair-loss/
- Does anyone have problems with hair loss with post-COVID?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/does-anyone-have-problems-with-hair-loss-with-post-covid/

See all: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/post-covid-recovery-covid-19/

suzianne | @suzianne | Jan 16 9:14am

I have had Covid four times and had four Covid shots. I have been shedding hair for over five years now. My daughter is a hair stylist and has told me that several of her clients have been shedding hair as well. We are calling it Covid Shed. I find my hair everywhere, clothes, carpet, in my food, car seats, etc. Basically it sheds on anything around me. I take many vitamins along with my prescribed medications. I welcome any suggestions.

ebbm77 | @ebbm77 | Feb 8 2:48pm

I had severe COVID along with multi-organ failure & Sepsis. I was hospitalized for 3 months & was on ventilated & sedated ECMO for over a month. I also had a feeding tube for 7 wks. My skin peeled & shedded like a snake all over. Then, after I got out of hospital & rehab, my hair started falling out in clumps all over my scalp, & my Dr diagnosed me with Telogen Effluvium. I took Vital Nutritive Hair Loss supplements (which contain several vitamins & minerals, incl biotin ), & it helped with my hair loss immensely!! It is available on Vital Nutritive's website and on Amazon. It's expensive but well worth it. I saw new hair growth after a month, & no more shedding after 3 months! My hair is also getting visibly thicker. Yay!

I have a new development, though. I'm having painful burning, itching, & warmth of my scalp a few times a week, & I have no clue what's going on. I did have a cervical steroidal injection, which helped with itching on my back & arms, but then my scalp burning, itching, & warm skin began. I saw a Dermatologist, but he didn't think anything was wrong. I'm wondering if it could be due to newfound food allergies? It doesn't happen every night.
Although I'm allergic to many different medications, I've never had food allergies before. I started on Plavix for severe Raynauds, but no other new meds. I further have autoimmune issues that have been exacerbated by long COVID. In the hospital, I developed calcium deposits across the cornea of my left eye & had them surgically removed after I got home. Then, I developed a Septic infection in that eye, which caused vision loss. Now, I have to have Cataracts removed and a Cornea Transplant. I have moderate pain in and around my eye, incl headaches. Could the scalp itching be caused by occipital nerve pain? If any one has advice, I'd really appreciate it. Finally, I feel for everyone with long COVID & pray that everyone gets better soon & that more research is done on COVID & it's long term effects.

katevanb | @katevanb | Feb 10 11:05pm

Yes, after two years my head is itchy and my hair is falling out.

suzianne | @suzianne | Feb 11 9:51am

Yes, for five years now! My hair is everywhere, my pillow, the car seats, in my food, in the drain, etc. I have to take the vacuum cleaner apart frequently to clean the hair out that gets spun around the brush. My daughter is a hairstylist and has seen this problem with many of her clients who have had Covid.