In the past two years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the relationship between a COVID-19 infection and subsequent hair loss has been a hot topic of discussion. If you’re dealing with hair loss after COVID-19, chances are you have a lot of questions. With the help of board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger, we’ll help you learn more by answering some frequently asked questions about hair loss and COVID-19, including:

• Does COVID-19 cause hair loss?

• What is the best COVID-19 hair loss treatment?

• Are there any vitamins or supplements that help with COVID-19 hair loss?

• Do laser treatments help with hair loss after COVID-19?

• Can shampoos help with hair loss from COVID-19?

Does COVID-19 cause hair loss?

“In my practice, we have seen an incredible amount of people who are dealing with hair loss after COVID-19,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “It follows the same pattern, in general, as regular telogen effluvium, which often happens after a pregnancy and delivery.” Telogen effluvium is a type of temporary hair loss caused by more hairs than usual entering the shedding phase (called the telogen phase) of the hair growth cycle. “The odd thing about COVID-19 hair loss is it appears a little quicker than post-pregnancy hair loss, and it tends to stay longer as well,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “This may be due to the unique nature of COVID-19 and long haul symptoms.”

What is the best COVID-19 hair loss treatment?

Here’s some good news about potential COVID-19 hair loss treatments: “Luckily, the things we do for regular hair loss may also help with COVID-19 hair loss,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “Mostly, I recommend Viviscal and other options, such as ReTress, for my patients with this condition. In more difficult cases, I will encourage using the HairMax laser, which helps much more than medicines alone.”

Are there any vitamins or supplements that help with COVID-19 hair loss?

One of Dr. Schlessinger’s go-to recommendations for patients experiencing COVID-19 hair loss are Viviscal Professional Supplements. These daily oral supplements are designed to support hair growth with biotin and a marine complex called AminoMar that’s exclusive to Viviscal. “Consistency is key here, as you do need to take these supplements for three to six months in order to see noticeable results,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “For those who are interested in an alternative to prescription hair-loss treatments, Viviscal is a very good choice.”

LovelySkin also recently started carrying Spanish skin care brand ISDIN. Its Lambdapil line of products is designed to help increase hair density and includes a daily oral supplement. The ISDIN Lambdapil Hair Density Capsules may help contribute to denser-looking hair by strengthening the structure of your hair with taurine, zinc and B vitamins. The Lambdapil line also includes the ISDIN Lambdapil Hair Density Shampoo, which is designed to help hair growth with Serenoa serrulata fruit extract, as well as the ISDIN Lambdapil Hair Density Lotion, a spray-on scalp treatment that formulated to help support your hair’s natural growth cycle with biotin and ginkgo biloba.

Do laser treatments help hair loss after COVID-19?

Yes, laser treatment may be able to help those experiencing hair loss after COVID-19. For patients with more severe cases of hair loss after COVID-19, Dr. Schlessinger recommends the HairMax Laser 82 ComfortFlex Hair Growth Device, which uses low-level laser therapy, an FDA-approved treatment to help reduce hair loss and regrow hair. “This is something that can make a huge impact on patients who are feeling sick or recovering and now have to deal with hair loss as well,” Dr. Schlessinger says. The HairMax Laser 82 contains 82 medical-grade lasers that deliver visible light in the red part of the spectrum directly into the scalp with each ninety-second treatment. This process, called photobiostimulation, may help COVID-19 hair loss by extending your hair’s growth phase and restoring a healthy hair growth cycle.

Can shampoos help with hair loss from COVID-19?

Interested in topical options for hair loss from COVID-19? There is an array of hair regrowth systems that include shampoos and other topical products you apply to your hair and scalp. One of Dr. Schlessinger’s top recommendations is ReTress, a product line for women designed to help reduce hair shedding and restore fuller-looking hair. The ReTress Hair Rejuvenation Kit is a four-piece set with a shampoo, conditioner, oral supplement and a scalp serum that contains patented biotin tripeptide complex designed to help nourish hair follicles and support the anchoring of hair. In a clinical trial, 95% of users reported moderate to significant improvement in the density of their hair after sixteen weeks of using this kit.

Some shampoos designed to help with hair loss contain ingredients that block DHT, a hormone that can play a role in hair loss disorders such as telogen effluvium. Miriam Quevedo Extreme Caviar Special Hair Loss Shampoo is formulated to help reduce hair thinning with a proprietary Multi-Vitamin 8 Complex that can help inhibit DHT. It also contains keratin and collagen peptides intended to help fortify each strand of hair with a protective film to reduce breakage.

Using volumizing hair products is another way to help improve the appearance of thinning hair while you are using supplements or a laser device to help with hair loss from COVID. RevitaLash Cosmetics Volumizing Hair Collection Travel Set is a unisex hair care line that contains a thickening shampoo and conditioner as well as a volume-enhancing hair foam. In a consumer study, 94% of users said their thinning hair looked thicker and healthier after four weeks of use.

Formulated by a plastic surgeon, Hush & Hush Deeply Rooted Serum was created to improve follicle regeneration for people struggling with hair loss. In a clinical study, users reported a 79% increase in the number of hairs per square centimeter after four months of use. You can try trial-sized versions of the serum along with the brand’s shampoo and conditioner in the Hush & Hush DeeplyRooted System Trial Set.

Hair loss is an issue that dermatologists help patients address year round, but it’s especially top of mind during August, which is National Hair Loss Awareness Month. Interested in more hair care innovations after learning about COVID-19 and hair loss? Check out the lineup of hair repair treatments from OLAPLEX.