JACKSON, Miss. – A Jackson physician specializing in hair restoration
says COVID-19 can trigger significant
hair loss in those recovering from the illness. In addition, many who were not
infected have been stressed by the complications of the worldwide pandemic and
are experiencing hair loss triggered by that stress.
Jackson
plastic surgeon Michael Kanosky, MD, FACS said, “It is widely reported in the
medical research literature that nearly 30 percent of patients recovering from
COVID-19 describe substantial hair loss. Thousands of others are suffering from
Telogen Effluvium, a condition that causes excessive hair shedding that is
usually temporary or at least cyclical.”
Telogen
Effluvium is described as excessive hair shedding after trauma. Dr. Kanosky
said that the trauma can be an illness like the Coronavirus, or it can be triggered
by stress. Then, there are two kinds of stress: physical stress like pregnancy
or surgery, or emotional stress like the loss of a loved one.
Telogen effluvium is generally considered to be the second most common type
of hair loss after androgenic alopecia. “Most of us have 10-15% of scalp hairs in this Telogen or
resting phase at any given time,” Dr. Kanosky said, “We all lose around 100
hairs a day as a part of the natural Telogen phase; but, someone suffering from
Telogen Effluvium will see hair loss across the entire scalp.”
“At any given point,” Dr. Kanosky said, “80-90% of your hair should
be in the anagen/growing phase.” However, he explained, “During and following
an illness like the coronavirus, you could see a wider diffuse pattern of rapid
hair loss all over the head. The hair follicles lost in this type of response
can be at any stage of growth. “This is
typically what we have seen in the past after a cancer patient has completed
chemotherapy or radiation,” he said.
Mississippi Physician Treats Hair Loss Caused by COVID-19
September 5, 2020
Page 2
Researchers are recording an increase in
the number of patients reporting hair loss after COVID infection. The Dermatology
COVID-19 Registry is a database of more than 1,000
cases from 38 countries. The timing of an uptick can be predicted since most of
those with Telogen Effluvium start to see hair loss about three months after the
sentinel event which can be either the onset of the virus or the actual life
event that caused excessive stress.
“Physicians across the state are seeing many
more patients with Telogen Effluvium this year,” Dr. Kanosky said, “because
everyone has been effected by the stress that has come with Coronavirus and
quarantine.” The disruption of schedules, school routines and sports activities
make many uncomfortable,” Dr. Kanosky said. “Some of us worry about catching coronavirus
or get itchy trying to adjust to quarantine or
get depressed dealing with a job loss
or business shutdown. Without, our normal coping mechanisms like church
services and gatherings with friends, these inconveniences become much larger
stressors.” So, whether the hair loss is from a direct viral effect or the uncertainty
of challenges we face because of the pandemic, “we can help you get your hair
back at Mississippi Hair Restoration,” Dr. Kanosky said.
Patients should know that hair lost due
to Telogen Effluvium is often transient and not necessarily permanently gone. “It will eventually move back into the growth
cycle but it may take one to six months or more,” Dr. Kanosky said, “and there
is no guarantee that the new growth will be the same color, texture or
thickness that you are used to.” So far, research has shown that injections of
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) into the scalp are likely to speed up the regrowth
process and help produce stronger, thicker, more viable hair follicles. Dr.
Kanosky performs PRP and other treatments to stimulate hair growth at Mississippi
Hair Restoration in Ridgeland.
Dr. Michael Kanosky is a board-certified
plastic surgeon who specializes in hair re-growth, new follicular unit hair
transplants, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy, Infrared Light Therapy and
Bio-identical Hormone Optimization. Dr. Kanosky practices reconstructive,
aesthetic and cosmetic plastic surgery at The Face & Body Center in
Flowood, Mississippi.
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