It is real and it may have happened to you. It happened to me too. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association,
The hair loss that many people develop, however, may not be so unexpected. Here’s why.
Temporary hair loss is normal after a fever or illness
Fever is a common symptom of COVID-19. A few months after having a high fever or recovering from an illness, many people see noticeable hair loss.
While many people think of this as hair loss, it’s actually hair shedding. The medical name for this type of hair shedding is telogen effluvium. It happens when more hairs than normal enter the shedding (telogen) phase of the hair growth lifecycle at the same time. A fever or illness can force more hairs into the shedding phase.
Most people see noticeable hair shedding two to three months after having a fever or illness. Handfuls of hair can come out when you shower or brush your hair. This hair shedding can last for six to nine months before it stops. Most people then see their hair start to look normal again and stop shedding.
Why:
Pandemic-induced stress and post-infection inflammation can cause temporary hair loss.
Jerry Shapiro, MD, a dermatologist at New York City-based NYU Langone Health told the news outlet that a high fever or flu-like illness can disrupt the normal ratio of growing to resting hairs. Growing hairs typically make up 90 percent of hair, while resting hairs make up 10 percent. When disrupted, it can shift to a 50:50 ratio.
Inflammation of the hair follicles themselves can trigger hair loss. Inflammation affects so much. Period.
- In short:
- Covid creates inflammation and heat within your body that in turn inflames and burns your hair bulbs and follicles triggering the hair to go into the stage of shedding and fall out.
- a high fever or flu-like illness can disrupt the normal ratio of growing to resting hairs. Growing hairs typically make up 90 percent of hair, while resting hairs make up 10 percent. When disrupted, it can shift to a 50:50 ratio.
- So the goal is to stop the follicles from pre mature miniaturization, aid them in healthy hair growth and up the efforts with scalp treatments and massage
- TO REDUCE INFLAMMATION AND HEAT IN YOUR SCALP AND BODY
- TIGHTEN AND STRENGTHEN THE FOLLICLES AND HAIR BULB
Hair tends to return to normal on its own
When the cause of your hair shedding is due to a fever, illness, or stress, hair tends to return to normal on its own. You just have to give it time. As your hair grows back, you’ll notice short hairs that are all the same length by your hairline. Most people see their hair regain its normal fullness within six to nine months.
If you suspect that your hair loss is caused by something more than telogen effluvium from stress or a fever, talk with a hair-loss expert, a dermatologist.
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I remember working in December 2019 and everyone was getting sick and no one really knew why-- someone had a friend who had horrible pneumonia or the flu was the worst ever, or a client had a headache that just wouldn’t go away certain it was terrible allergies. If you were a hair artist at this time, I’m sure you remember a lot of this. I’m sure you also remember we all would work sick or with colds and clients would come in sick as well. You just did.
I remember my kids getting sick and then two weeks later I had a low fever but like usual I was still able to push myself to function chalking it up to another virus my kids gifted me.
A few months later I noticed my hair shedding AGAIN, and a lot, and I was overwhelmed by the repeat of hair loss which I just felt I had gotten under control.
I dreaded showering because of how much hair would come out. I looked at my scalp and hairline in a close up mirror every day to see if hair was growing. I thought about it all day long, and I felt lost and like a shell of myself.
Looking back now I know that that cycle of hair loss was connected to illness and fever and yes it did stop and yes two years later my hair is coming back but here is what I really detest and know about: THE WHY AND THE HOW AND THE WHAT TO DO.
WHAT CAN YOU DO:
ACCEPTANCE
PATIENCE
CONSISTENCY IN SCALP HEALTH ROUTINE
FIRST: Always first check with a dermatologist and your doctor (I learned this the expensive way). Get basic blood work done.
NEXT: Begin a healthy scalp routine. So here I share NAJEAU not because It’s my baby but because I know and believe it will help and that the organic oils work if you use them. I spent 4 years searching researching asking and doing routines and procedures that deal w hair loss and growth. Massaging oils with love ingredients are key to encouraging follicles to regrow, renew and heal.
Have a routine.
- Begin daily Scalp Massages
- Shampoo scalp 2-3 times a week with PH BALANCING SHAMPOO
- Do the NAJEAU Scalp Mask one time a week with live ingredients. Think of it as your once a week facial for your scalp. Use the turbo charged formula with avocado, as avocado is known to cool down the scalp.
- Use NAJEAU Follicle Dropper pre shampoo. So every time before you wash your hair (which should be 2-3 times a week) apply the follicle oils to your scalp, massage for 15 minutes and then shampoo and go.
- Invest if you can in a Red Light Laser Cap (that post and explanation is coming soon).
- Leave all mousses and dry shampoos OFF your scalp.
- SHOWER HAIR WITH COOL TO LUKE WARM WATER WHAT YOU CAN TOLERATE TOO HIGH OF HEAT CAN FURTHER WEAKEN THE BALANCE OF THE SCALP AND HAIR
START HERE AND THEN YOU CAN GROW MORE INTO YOUR ROUTINE.
Most importantly I learned to:
BE PATIENT, TRUST THE PROCESS, STAY CONSISTENT, AND LET GO.
