How To Stop Hair Loss After COVID

Key Takeaways:

• Hair loss after COVID can happen due to telogen effluvium, an alopecia areata flare-up, or trichotillomania.

• If it’s telogen effluvium, normal hair growth should resume a few months after healing from the virus.

• Topical minoxidil or other treatments like red light therapy can help support new growth.

• Consult a healthcare provider if you’re noticing excessive shedding after COVID.
  
  

If you’ve noticed more strands on your pillow a few months after having COVID-19, you’re far from alone. Many people report excessive hair shedding following a coronavirus infection.

The good news? In most cases, COVID-related hair loss is temporary.

Post-COVID hair loss is often linked to a condition called telogen effluvium, a form of temporary hair shedding triggered by physical or emotional stress. And yes — fighting off a viral infection absolutely counts as stress on your body.

Here’s what to know about why COVID hair loss happens, what to expect, and how to stop hair loss after COVID.

Hair loss might seem like an unusual side effect of COVID-19. But the American Academy of Dermatology reports that many people see excessive hair shedding 2 to 3 months after infection.

Why exactly is this?

Three types of hair loss in particular may be triggered or worsened by COVID-19, including:

• Telogen effluvium

• Alopecia areata

• Trichotillomania

Keep scrolling for details.

Telogen Effluvium After COVID-19

Hair loss triggered by a COVID-19 infection is most commonly a form of acute telogen effluvium. This type of hair loss is caused by a stressful event, such as illness.

Under normal conditions, around 90 percent of your hair is in the growth (anagen) phase of the hair growth cycle, and only about 10 percent is in the resting (telogen) phase.

But when your immune system is fighting off illness, inflammation increases, hormones fluctuate, and nutrients get diverted away from nonessential systems — like hair growth.

As a result, more hair follicles move out of the growth phase and into the resting phase. After a few months, the follicles shift into the shedding phase — which is why so much of your hair might shed all at once. 

Good news: In most cases, telogen effluvium is temporary. Hair follicles will return to their normal function once your body recovers and whatever caused the temporary hair loss in the first place has subsided.

COVID and Alopecia Areata

COVID-19 can trigger a flare-up of alopecia areata, a rare autoimmune condition that causes hair loss.

As with other autoimmune disorders, alopecia areata may worsen in waves (called flare-ups). This can result in increased hair loss.

One Italian survey looked at alopecia areata flare-ups during the pandemic. For those who had a COVID-19 infection, about 42.5 percent experienced a flare-up. Roughly 12.5 percent of participants who didn’t have COVID-19 reported a flare-up.

COVID and Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is a mental health condition where you compulsively pull your hair out. Stress can trigger or worsen the condition, including the stress associated with illness.

The link between trichotillomania and COVID-19 hasn’t been studied extensively. But a few case studies — such as a 2022 report on a 13-year-old boy and a 2023 study on a 29-year-old woman — suggest there may be a connection.

In one case, a woman developed trichotillomania while living with long COVID. This was eventually treated with escitalopram, an antidepressant medication.

Since trichotillomania is a mental health condition, it calls for mental health treatment — not just hair loss treatments. So be sure to talk to a healthcare provider specializing in psychological health.

If you Googled “COVID hair loss female,” you’re not alone. While both men and women can experience COVID-related hair loss, there’s slightly more data on women.

A small study looked at women who had hair complaints after a COVID-19 infection. In an online survey of 500 women:

• 60.8 percent reported telogen effluvium

• 3.6 percent reported trichotillomania

• 2.2 percent reported alopecia areata

• 13.8 percent reported increased gray hair

• 5.6 percent reported dandruff

One review looked at several studies on hair loss and COVID-19. Around 80.7 percent of participants in the studies were female. The authors noted that this may be because:

• Women may be more likely to notice hair thinning than men 

• Immune responses may depend on sex differences  

• Women are more susceptible to telogen effluvium because of postpartum hormonal changes

In other words, it’s not completely clear if women are more prone to COVID hair loss or if they’re simply more likely to report it. It’s possibly a combination of both factors.

You can’t stop hair shedding immediately, but you can support your scalp and encourage hair regrowth as your body recovers from illness.

Consider these tips for treating hair loss after COVID.

1. Focus on Overall Health

To support healthy hair growth, practice basic self-care, like:

• Eating a balanced diet to get plenty of protein, iron, zinc, biotin, and vitamin D

• Drinking enough water

• Practicing healthy stress-management techniques

• Getting enough sleep to reduce physical stress on your system

Taking good care of yourself can help you recover from the effects of COVID-19 and give your follicles a chance to recuperate.

2. Consider Topical Treatments

Certain topical treatments can slow hair loss and supercharge hair growth.

Topical minoxidil is an FDA-approved hair loss treatment. It works by increasing blood flow to hair follicles and extending the anagen phase, helping new hair grow thicker and stronger. 

While results can take several months, studies show consistent minoxidil use can lead to visible regrowth and improved hair density.

3. Explore Supplements

Nutritional deficiencies can also trigger telogen effluvium. Think about it — your body needs nutrients to fulfill all its functions, including growing hair.

A balanced diet is the best source of these nutrients. But if you have a nutritional deficiency, supplements may help. Hair growth supplements typically contain ingredients like biotin, zinc, and vitamin D — all of which can help fill nutritional gaps that may contribute to hair thinning.

But — and this is a big but — if a nutritional deficiency isn’t causing your hair loss, supplements won’t stop your hair loss or speed up your hair growth.

Always talk to a healthcare provider before starting new supplements.

→ Related: Foods to Eat for Healthy Hair

4. Consider In-Office Treatments

For some people, in-office hair loss treatments may help support hair growth. These treatments can be pricey, so be sure to ask about the cost ahead of time.  

You could consider treatments like:

• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. This treatment uses your own blood’s growth factors to stimulate dormant follicles and promote hair regrowth.  

• Low-level light therapy (LLLT). A type of red light therapy, LLLT uses low-powered lasers to stimulate hair follicles and promote hair regrowth. 

Other options, like hair transplants, are typically reserved for pattern baldness rather than COVID-related hair loss.

5. Avoid Harsh Hairstyles and Chemical Treatments

Whether you’ve had COVID or not, it’s always important to handle your hair gently. Rough treatment can contribute to breakage, and tight hairstyles can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia.

We recommend:

• Skipping tight ponytails or braids that pull on hair follicles 

• Avoiding excessive heat styling 

• Limiting chemical treatments, like perms or relaxers

• Brushing or combing your hair gently

→ Read: Expert Tips for Creating a Healthy Hair Care Routine

6. Support Your Scalp With the Right Products

Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. Practice good scalp care by:

• Using a hair loss shampoo to promote regrowth

• Switching to an anti-dandruff shampoo if you have dandruff

• Using a clarifying shampoo once a week (or as needed) if you have product buildup or an oily scalp

• Moisturize your scalp to keep dryness at bay

Look for quality hair care products that suit your hair type. If you’re not sure what to choose, ask your hairstylist or a healthcare professional.

7. Talk to a Professional

If you’re unsure what’s causing your shedding, or if shedding lasts longer than 6 months, a healthcare professional can help.

They can assess your scalp, run lab tests to check vitamin D or iron levels, and identify potential causes of hair loss, like androgenetic alopecia or chronic telogen effluvium.

If you have trichotillomania, or if you think stress is playing a role in your hair loss, consider reaching out to a therapist. Therapy can be an excellent way to support your mental health.

From there, you can get the treatment you need. And the sooner you treat hair loss, the better.

If you’re dealing with hair loss after COVID-19, know you’re not alone — and your hair will most likely grow back.

Here’s what to remember about how to stop hair loss after COVID:

• COVID hair loss is typically telogen effluvium. This temporary hair loss condition usually resolves on its own once your body returns to balance. 

• Treatments like topical minoxidil can help promote hair regrowth after COVID.

• Support healthy hair growth through good self-care. Eat a nourishing diet, handle your hair gently, and take care of your scalp.  

If your hair isn’t regrowing after several months, connect with a healthcare provider to discuss potential treatments like topical minoxidil, supplements, or other COVID hair loss treatments that may help you get back to feeling like yourself again.

Get answers to frequently asked questions about how to stop hair loss after COVID.

How long does COVID hair loss last?

Most people experience noticeable hair shedding for 3 to 6 months after COVID, followed by visible regrowth within 9 to 12 months.

What type of hair loss happens after COVID?

Most post-COVID shedding is telogen effluvium, a temporary shift in the hair growth cycle caused by stress or illness. However, you might experience other forms of hair loss after COVID.

Can COVID-19 cause permanent baldness?

No, COVID-19 generally doesn’t cause permanent baldness. Telogen effluvium is a temporary form of hair shedding, but it can unmask other conditions, like pattern hair loss or alopecia areata, that may require long-term treatment.

What helps with COVID hair loss?

COVID hair loss usually stops within a few months. But in the meantime, treatments like topical minoxidil can help support healthy hair growth. You might also consider treatments like platelet-rich plasma therapy or laser therapy. 

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards.