When it comes to hair loss, some of the most commonly known causes are age, genetics, hormones, stress and diet etc… These are the typical factors that can trigger the conditions and hormones that affect the hair’s growth cycle and thickness. However, there are also lesser-known links between hair loss and specific medical or health conditions. One of these is the link between viral infections and increased hair loss.
This
connection became headline news in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, when
reports emerged about hair loss being a common side-effect for some sufferers,
sometimes months after they recovered from the virus.
While
the scientific discoveries are still ongoing, the evidence suggests that there
is some kind of connection between virus symptoms or side-effects and the
health of the hair and scalp. Although it’s possible that the stress around a
period of illness, and especially the heightened uncertainties during the
global pandemic, may be the real underlying cause, or at least an additional
factor, as stress is a widely regarded as a common trigger for increased hair
loss though there are various opportunities for hair transplant in India.
One
encouraging aspect is that the type of hair loss linked to both stress and
illnesses (such as viral infections) is usually the temporary kind, known as Telogen Effluvium (TE). In cases of TE,
the normal growth cycle of the hair is shocked or stressed by the triggering
incident, i.e. an illness, which results in more shedding than usual. It can
sometimes be difficult to identify what has caused the excess shedding, as it
can often occur months after the damage was caused to the hair follicle.
Looking After Your Health:
The good
news is that some of the same preventative measures for avoiding common viral
infections can also help to prevent, and even reverse, some types of hair loss.
So, if you’ve noticed increased hair loss, or you’re concerned about the
after-effects or prevention of viral infection, here are some of the things you
can do to strengthen your immune system, boost your overall health and
wellbeing, and minimise some of the common causes of hair thinning or excess
shedding.
Exercise:
Moderate
exercise on a regular basis can help you to build a strong foundation of health
that will naturally support both your immune system and your body’s
regenerative processes, such as hair growth.
Stress-relieving strategies:
Reducing
stress, whenever possible, can be one of the best ways to boost your overall
health and wellbeing, which will naturally help with any stress-related hair
loss.
Diet:
Eating
well, particularly during times of illness or stress, can provide your body
with the nutrients it needs to repair it and restore the natural healthy
balance of your hair’s growth cycle.
Although
losing your hair is not in itself regarded as a serious health issue, it may be
a symptom or side-effect of another condition or infection. If you’ve noticed
an increase in hair loss and you’ve ruled out the usual causes, it would
certainly be worth mentioning it to your GP.
Alternatively, you could book a free consultation with the best hair transplant clinic in India, where hair loss specialists can
help you learn more about your hair loss and if it might be related to
underlying health conditions.
Getting
any unusual hair loss symptoms checked with a medical professional of the best hair transplant surgeon in
Kolkata is advisable, if only to provide you with
peace of mind that you’re fit and well. And since stress and anxiety can
themselves contribute to hair loss issues, it would be wise to investigate any
concerns sooner rather than later.