Review article
Post-COVID Telogen Effluvium
Deša Tešanović Perković
; Special Hospital Agram, Zagreb, Croatia
Marija Vukojević
; School of Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Zrinka Bukvić Mokos
; Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Recently, the number of patients with acute telogen efflu-
vium (ATE), among other forms of hair loss, has increased in comparison
with previous years. The COVID-19 pandemic, taking place during this
period, may be the cause of this phenomenon. The exact mechanisms
by which this virus causes hair loss are not entirely understood; still, the
most likely cause is an excessive release of proinflammatory cytokines
during SARS-CoV-2 infection. This process can trigger the development
of telogen effluvium (TE) by damaging hair matrix cells. Additionally,
the psychosocial condition of patients recovering from COVID-19 will
have deteriorated, contributing to hair loss. Based on data collected un-
til now, post-COVID TE is expected to improve without any treatment.
Although there is no specific treatment for post-COVID TE, eliminating
psychophysical stress, managing systemic complications, and explain-
ing the course of the condition to the patient will potentially improve
and speed up the hair recovery process.
Keywords
COVID-19; hair loss; telogen effluvium; pathophysiology; treatment
Hrčak ID:
299668
URI
Publication date:
14.12.2022.
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