Post COVID hair loss: Will it grow back?

Posted by nichirschfield @nichirschfield, Feb 2, 2022

My husband had severe COVID in late Oct/early November, and now his hair is falling out rapidly. Has anyone else experienced this, and did it grow back?

Thanks,
Nicole

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@pacergayle1

Sounds like your hairdresser is an ‘anti-vaxer’! Hair loss is random and has nothing to do with getting the vaccine, but has everything to do with how your body deals with a trauma!

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So sad but, The National Institutes of Health notes hair loss (alopecia areata after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination) with Covid Vaccine as well.

Six of our 9 patients experienced hair loss within 1 month of completing their vaccine series, and 2 more experienced hair loss within 2 months.

Blessings to all....

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@ronag

I'm now 11 months post-covid and still losing lots of hair. My hair has thinned so much. Still, I'd give up my hair if I could return to a normal life. No energy, GI problems, shortness of breath, coughing, brain fog. All I do is sit quietly at home or go to doctor's appointments. Not the retirement I was looking for.

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Just read your post on Mayo clinic, sound just like me...formerly very healthy, except I had thyroid disorder for 35 years that was very controlled with thyroid meds, no problems. I had covid almost 2 years ago, and was vaccinated 5 times.... and ever since have had terrible GI problems, Cardiac arrhythmia, Thyroid issues, brain fog, chronic fatigue, hair loss like crazy, like you. I also retired and my life has become doctor appts and test tests tests that don't show anything except low iron and higher cholesterol which is hard to believe as how can any food be staying in my body? I have loose stool many times a day. The theory is either covid OR the vaccine is the cause of all my symptoms, but no test for that is developed at this point. My thyroid was pretty much atrophied after so many years of thyroid meds, but Endocrinologist and Cardiologist were both convinced that it was probably still pumping out some thyroid hormone willy nilly and since I had covid it was making it impossible to get my thyroid hormone level right... if I had my thyroid removed it would make me better, so I had thyroid removed 2 months ago. For a few weeks I felt a little better, but then all my former symptoms returned! and I'm as bad as ever again. Now have to start the rounds of doctors once again to see if they can do anything, even just symptom relief, particularly the GI stuff which is horrible. Your message was from March, really wondering how your are doing now? any improvement or solutions for any of the symptoms? My sister who had covid when I did had the same symptoms but far less than me, she is convinced its from the vaccine as she had a vaccine about 6 mos ago and her symptoms came back but not for too long, she's a lot better now!

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Yes I have been experiencing this for the last 11 months. I have about 30% of the hair I used to have. Unfortunately, I have not found anything that is working to stop or regrow it.

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@123456789101112131415

Yes I have been experiencing this for the last 11 months. I have about 30% of the hair I used to have. Unfortunately, I have not found anything that is working to stop or regrow it.

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Have you tried Nutrafol or any of the B vitamins for hair growth, or topical minoxidil?
Are you female?
I am 80 year old female, and have lost half my hair since August 2022. I've tried both of the above. My dermatologist is trying her best to help me.
Thank you so much for the reply.

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@gbw

Just read your post on Mayo clinic, sound just like me...formerly very healthy, except I had thyroid disorder for 35 years that was very controlled with thyroid meds, no problems. I had covid almost 2 years ago, and was vaccinated 5 times.... and ever since have had terrible GI problems, Cardiac arrhythmia, Thyroid issues, brain fog, chronic fatigue, hair loss like crazy, like you. I also retired and my life has become doctor appts and test tests tests that don't show anything except low iron and higher cholesterol which is hard to believe as how can any food be staying in my body? I have loose stool many times a day. The theory is either covid OR the vaccine is the cause of all my symptoms, but no test for that is developed at this point. My thyroid was pretty much atrophied after so many years of thyroid meds, but Endocrinologist and Cardiologist were both convinced that it was probably still pumping out some thyroid hormone willy nilly and since I had covid it was making it impossible to get my thyroid hormone level right... if I had my thyroid removed it would make me better, so I had thyroid removed 2 months ago. For a few weeks I felt a little better, but then all my former symptoms returned! and I'm as bad as ever again. Now have to start the rounds of doctors once again to see if they can do anything, even just symptom relief, particularly the GI stuff which is horrible. Your message was from March, really wondering how your are doing now? any improvement or solutions for any of the symptoms? My sister who had covid when I did had the same symptoms but far less than me, she is convinced its from the vaccine as she had a vaccine about 6 mos ago and her symptoms came back but not for too long, she's a lot better now!

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I have been told I have alopecia terminus
In other words, I will be bald as an 80 year old female
How are you doing with hairloss??
(I'd rather have more wrinkles!!!)
Thanks
Judy

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@judyfa43

I have been told I have alopecia terminus
In other words, I will be bald as an 80 year old female
How are you doing with hairloss??
(I'd rather have more wrinkles!!!)
Thanks
Judy

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I have been taking Nutroful(sp?) For two months. My hair thinned out at temples. It is better now I think. I am 74. We will see.

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@kstar077

I have been taking Nutroful(sp?) For two months. My hair thinned out at temples. It is better now I think. I am 74. We will see.

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Thank you for responding!!! I very much appreciate it.
I have been taking Nutrafol for about a year, also applying Minoxidil topically to my scalp
twice a day, and experimenting with washing my hair either every day or every other day.
My dermatologist added Clobetasol applied topically once a day, and Ketoconazole shampoo.

Despite an initial spurt of hope, thinning of my ONCE very thick hair continues with tell-tale
signs similar to some animal living in my house and shedding - with hair everywhere, and a
large accumulation in the drain when washing it.

Blessings and hope to all us long Covid victims. One of my doctors has joined our group, assures me they are doing all they can to find treatment for us. I know there is a bill before congress for funding research.....

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After two years my hair is still falling out. My hair was very thick so probably not noticeable to anyone but me. As it grows back in, it is a different texture and it is white.
So yes, for me it is falling out, but also growing back.
It’s very strange.

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@dloos

After two years my hair is still falling out. My hair was very thick so probably not noticeable to anyone but me. As it grows back in, it is a different texture and it is white.
So yes, for me it is falling out, but also growing back.
It’s very strange.

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Thank you so much for your response.
I will be happy to have any color or texture if mine will (please) grow back!
I very much appreciate your comments.....thank you

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@judyfa43

Thank you so much for your response.
I will be happy to have any color or texture if mine will (please) grow back!
I very much appreciate your comments.....thank you

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Good luck to you.
I do think that this particular symptom may resolve for most people. It seems to me like a trauma response. I’m still in this thing so it has not yet resolved.
My husband got over Covid more quickly than I and his hair has grown back in.

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