Dermatologists See a Rise in Stress-Related Hair Loss Cases Amidst COVID-19

MIAMI, August 19, 2020 (Newswire.com) - ​Dermatologists see increase patient visits and consultations in cases related to stress-related hair loss in correlation to COVID-19. Cases of Telogen Effluvium are rising around the world. Telogen effluvium is the name for a common cause of temporary hair loss due to the excessive shedding of resting or telogen hair after some shock to the system. There are also growing cases around the world for those who had COVID in relation to telogen effluvium.

Dr. Antonella Tosti, a world-renowned dermatologist in the field of trichology, now serving as the Fredric Brandt Endowed Professor of Dermatology at the University of Miami, says, “Patients who had the infection (the novel coronavirus) often develop severe hair loss 2 to 3 months after. This type of hair loss is known as telogen effluvium.” she goes on to say, “The stress associated with COVID, and the infection itself, as well as the drugs utilized to treat the infection, can all contribute to causing hair loss. Telogen effluvium is temporary and can last 3 to 4 months, however, it is not always reversible. Some patients might not regrow the hair they once had and some may grow back thinner than before.”

Dermatologists attribute the rising cases to issues such as confinement, emotional stress, and other factors affecting the lives of people on a day-to-day basis.

Dermatologist Dr. Alissa O’Brien, a board-certified dermatologist from Palm Beach, Florida at Waters Edge Dermatology tells us, “As a practicing community dermatologist, I am hearing quite the buzz in the academic community about COVID-19 hair loss. Dermatologists in NYC and other early-hit areas are now reporting hair loss as a secondary effect. This is actually not surprising. It is not specific to COVID-19. There is a well-known phenomenon where approximately three months after a “stressful” event the hair sheds much more than normal. Up to 50% of the hair can be temporarily lost due to this phenomenon, ‘telogen effluvium.’”

Dermatologist Dr. Dustin Portela, a Board Certified Dermatologist and Dermatological Surgeon from Treasure Valley Dermatology in Idaho says, “When the lockdowns began and it became apparent that they would last longer than the predicted 14 days I began to anticipate a wave of hair loss complaints hitting the clinic in 2-3 months. The emotional stress of the drastic lifestyle changes and the many patients who would be affected by COVID-19 were likely to cause an increase in cases of telogen effluvium. As time has passed we have seen that occur. Many more patients are seeking treatment for hair loss along with their checkups for acne or skin cancer. I am glad to have the resources of DS Laboratories to provide effective solutions to my patients.”

DS Healthcare Group, owner of DS Laboratories, one of the largest brands in the hair-care space related to hair loss and hair growth products is seeing a growing demand for their Spectral.F7 topical solution to stress-related hair loss, aiding in cases of telogen effluvium with the main ingredient Astressin-B.

Astressin-B works by inhibiting certain receptors involved in hair growth that are antagonists to hair growth when the body is exposed to stress. Astressin-B also reduces cortisol levels, which is another chemical agent of stress and has been linked to hair loss. Changes typically start showing in the first 3 weeks and continued usage will give better results. Spectral.F7 combines 4 key hair growth ingredients that help stimulate hair growth and combat hair loss.

Dermatologist Dr. Daniel Guzman Sanchez said, “Stress is a physical, mental, and emotional factor that causes mental and physical tension. This state initiates the ‘fight or flight’ complex, an endocrinological, neurological, and immunological reaction. Cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine are also known as ‘stress hormones’. In the brain, stress produces inflammation, corticotropin-release hormone activation, and corticotropin-releasing factor, these events are responsible for the cortisol release. Cortisol affects the hair cycle and telogen effluvium occurs. In these cases, Spectral.F7 topical could be useful because it has a high content of antioxidants, amino acids, copper peptides, and astressin-b. Astressin-B is a peptide responsible for rapid hair growth, through the blockage of a corticotropin release factor.”

Source: DS Healthcare Group