The Five COVID Hair Loss Fives

The Five COVID Fives

We have come to learn quite a bit about hair loss in patients with COVID 19. 20-50 % of patients develop increased levels of daily hair shedding after COVID19 infection.

Shedding can happen in a delayed manner 2-4 months after infection (i.e. the classic telogen effluvium mechanism) or in a more immediate manner just 2-4 weeks after infection (i.e. the dystrophic anagen effluvium mechanism).

The following are my five COVID “fives”

1. Women are five times more like to shed than men
2. Classic TE is five times more common than dystrophic anagen effluvium
3. Most patients find shedding resolves within 5 months
4. 5 % find shedding does not resolve by 5 months and have more prolonged shedding
5. There are 5 types of hair disorders induced by the Sars-COV-2: classic TE is most common followed by dystrophic anagen effluvium. Alopecia areata, seborrheic dermatitis and scarring alopecia seem very uncommon but have been reported.