Management of hair loss after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection: Insight into the pathophysiology with implication for better management

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, and COVID-19 continues to have a major impact on society. Numerous studies have reported impaired health sequelae after COVID-19 recovery, one of which is hair loss. Individuals with hair loss experience a substantial mental burden, which potentially hinders their social life. However, few studies have systematically analyzed the details including hair loss. Therefore, we conducted a narrative review using PubMed on the frequency, associated comorbidities, disease characteristics, and treatment of hair loss after SARS-CoV-2 infection (HLASCI). Two search strings were used to identify 28 articles. Of note, most of the literature identified on COVID-19 sequelae reported an emergence/occurrence of hair loss. HLASCI is speculated to be composed of a heterogeneous population, with the onset or exacerbation of telogen effluvium (TE), anagen effluvium, androgenetic alopecia (AGA), and alopecia areata (AA) reported as possible underlying mechanisms. Among these, acute TE is thought to be the primary cause of HLASCI, with COVID-19 treatment and TE improvement being considered crucial for HLASCI management. An association between COVID-19 and AA exacerbation has also been implicated with still insufficient evidence. Spontaneous recovery of TE can be expected once infection reduces; however, faster improvement in symptoms is expected to reduce the mental and social burden of patients. An additional search string identified 11 articles about TE treatment which suggested that the use of minoxidil may be beneficial. Topical minoxidil has been widely used for AGA patients, who have been speculated to exhibit poor resistance to SARS-CoV-2. Topical minoxidil may provide relief from HLASCI, but future clinical research is warranted to confirm this observation.

Automated summary

COVID-19 recovery may lead to hair loss, which can have a significant impact on patients' mental and social well-being. The underlying mechanisms of hair loss after SARS-CoV-2 infection are still not fully understood. Treatment options include managing COVID-19 symptoms and improving hair loss associated with the telogen effluvium phase. Topical minoxidil has been suggested as a potential treatment, but more clinical research is needed to confirm its effectiveness.