A Russian medical expert stated that more and more patients have been complaining in recent months about hair loss or thinning as a consequence of COVID-19, according to Russian media reports. Yelena Klimkina, a specialist in dermatology and venereology, mentioned in an interview with the "Novosti" agency that this issue begins to manifest one or two months after suffering from the disease.
Since the virus emerged, more than 247,542,000 people have confirmed to have been infected. The vast majority of those affected have recovered, although some continue to experience symptoms weeks or even months later. The Russian doctor added: "Patients are increasingly complaining about hair thinning and loss on the scalp. The reason for this lies in the fact that during the COVID-19 illness, the entire body suffers, whether from the infection itself or from the toxic effects of the medications used to treat it. During this time, hair does not fall out immediately but rather 30-60 days after suffering from the illness. This is due to the cyclical nature of hair growth, which occurs in specific stages."
According to the Russian doctor, hair loss, or what is known as "alopecia," usually does not occur gradually but rather suddenly, which causes panic among patients. She recommended seeking help from a specialist in such cases. She stated: "There is no specific universal form for examination and treatment in these cases. Each patient must be examined by a specialist using trichoscopy, which allows for a detailed view of the problem and understanding its scale."
She added: "Certain tests necessary for the specific patient are conducted—these may include blood tests, hair analysis, or skin scrapings. After studying all of this, the specialist determines the required treatment."
COVID-19 has caused the deaths of at least 5,012,784 people worldwide since the World Health Organization reported the emergence of the disease in China at the end of December 2019. The majority of those infected have recovered, although some continue to experience symptoms weeks or even months later. The World Health Organization considers that taking into account the direct and indirect excess mortality rate linked to COVID-19, the toll of the pandemic may be two to three times higher than the officially reported figures. A significant percentage of less severe or asymptomatic cases remain undetected despite increased testing in many countries.
