Noticing more hair in your brush or shower drain a few months after having COVID-19 is a common, well-documented experience. More than 20% of people hospitalised with COVID-19 report hair loss three to six months after discharge, and research suggests it may be even more common among people who had milder symptoms. The good news is that this type of hair loss is almost always temporary, and understanding why it happens makes it much easier to know what actually helps.
COVID-related hair loss is caused by telogen effluvium, a condition where a physically or emotionally stressful event pushes an unusually large number of hair follicles into their resting phase at the same time. Since COVID-19 places real stress on the body, particularly through high fever, it’s a well-recognised trigger for this condition. A study from the University of Baghdad identified COVID-19 infection as a significant cause of telogen effluvium, and fever in particular appears to have the strongest influence on how much shedding someone experiences afterward.
It helps to understand the hair growth cycle to see why this happens. Hair growth moves through three phases. In the anagen phase, the follicle actively grows hair, and this typically lasts around three years. In the catagen phase, growth stops. In the telogen phase, the hair rests for two to three months before it eventually falls out and is replaced by a new hair entering anagen. Normally, only about 10 to 15% of your hair is in the telogen phase at any given time. During telogen effluvium, a stressful event pushes a much larger share of hair into this resting phase all at once, so a few months later, a noticeably larger amount sheds together.
Hair loss from telogen effluvium typically begins two to three months after the triggering illness, which is why the connection to COVID-19 isn’t always obvious right away. For most people, hair begins regrowing within three to six months, and telogen effluvium caused by COVID-19 is very unlikely to be permanent. Being reassured of this self-limiting course is actually part of effective management, since ongoing stress about the hair loss itself can prolong the shedding.
Since telogen effluvium usually resolves on its own, the first and most important “treatment” is often simply time, alongside good general nutrition. Protein and key vitamins and minerals support healthy hair growth, so a balanced diet rich in these nutrients gives your hair the best conditions to recover. Antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, and E help combat oxidative stress, biotin (vitamin B7) supports keratin production, iron supports the hair growth cycle, and zinc supports tissue repair. If you suspect a specific deficiency, it’s worth having it checked with a blood test rather than supplementing broadly, since some of these nutrients can cause problems in excess.
Minoxidil is FDA-approved for pattern hair loss, but it’s also commonly used off-label for telogen effluvium, including COVID-related cases, and this use has real evidence behind it. A 2025 clinical trial found that around 70% of participants using topical minoxidil showed measurable improvement in hair shedding. It’s generally considered safe, though it should be avoided during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and any medication use should be discussed with a doctor first.
Ongoing physical or emotional stress can prolong telogen effluvium, so supporting your overall wellbeing matters. Staying well hydrated, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking and excess alcohol, limiting ultra-processed foods, and practising stress-reduction techniques such as mindfulness or meditation can all support recovery.
While your hair is in this vulnerable phase, being gentle with it helps reduce unnecessary additional shedding. Massage your scalp gently in circular motions while washing, detangle by brushing downward rather than piling hair up, and trim dry ends to reduce tangling. It’s also worth avoiding sulphates, parabens, alcohols, and artificial fragrances in hair products, along with heat styling and chemical treatments like perming or rebonding, until your hair has had a chance to recover.
Hair loss isn’t always purely due to post-COVID telogen effluvium. Stress, poor diet, significant weight loss, hormonal changes, thyroid dysfunction, and deficiencies in vitamin D or B12 can all contribute to or worsen hair shedding. If your hair loss feels more severe than typical telogen effluvium, or isn’t improving within the expected timeframe, it’s worth getting a proper assessment from a doctor or dermatologist rather than assuming it will resolve the same way for everyone.
For hair loss that doesn’t improve as expected, some clinics offer treatments such as PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy or mesotherapy, which aim to support hair regeneration. These are generally considered for more persistent cases rather than first-line treatment, and it’s worth discussing whether they’re appropriate for your specific situation with a dermatologist.
Telogen effluvium, a stress-related condition where an unusually large number of hair follicles enter their resting phase at the same time, most commonly triggered by fever and the physical stress of the illness.
No. COVID-19 treatment itself doesn’t cause hair loss. It’s telogen effluvium, most likely triggered by the stress and fever of the infection itself.
Typically two to three months after infection, which is why people often don’t immediately connect it to having had COVID-19.
Yes. Hair generally regrows within three to six months as the growth cycle returns to normal, and the condition is very unlikely to be permanent.
No. Finasteride is approved for pattern hair loss, a different condition, and isn’t an established treatment for telogen effluvium. Topical minoxidil, used off-label, has more relevant supporting evidence for this type of hair loss.
Hair growth is divided into three stages:
Approximately 90% of hairs on our scalp are in the anagen (growing) phase, while the remaining 10% are in the telogen (resting) phase. Anagen lasts roughly three years on our scalp, after which hairs begin to transition into telogen, which lasts two to six months. Our hairs are lost from their follicles at the end of telogen and eventually replaced by new anagen hairs. The growth cycle then resumes.
Hair loss caused by COVID-19 infection is unlikely to be permanent. Hair will begin to regrow six months following recovery for the majority of patients.
Hair loss after COVID-19 is common, well understood, and in the vast majority of cases, temporary. It’s caused by telogen effluvium, a stress-triggered shedding pattern rather than permanent follicle damage, and hair typically begins regrowing within three to six months without needing aggressive treatment. Supporting your body with good nutrition, gentle hair care, and stress reduction helps the process along, while options like topical minoxidil can be considered with a doctor’s guidance if shedding feels severe or prolonged. If your hair loss isn’t following this typical pattern, or you’d like a proper assessment, you can consult a doctor online through MaNaDr App.
