Hair loss, causes and remedies. Come influenced Covid according to the expert
The classification of countries by percentage of baldness is clear: Italy is in seventh place, slightly surpassed by the US and the United Kingdom. On the podium are Germany, Spain and the Czech Republic, the latter with 42.79% of men affected by a form of baldness. In our country, 39% of men have lost their hair, but women are also not completely spared as 13% of the population suffers from baldness, while the country with the lowest percentage is China with only 20%. Many doctors also report that since the beginning of the Covid emergency, the number of patients complaining of hair loss has increased, which affects both men and women.
Benedetta de Mattei interviewed Bianca Maria Piraccini – Director of Dermatology UOC of the Sant’Orsola Polyclinic and Professor of Dermatology at the University of Bologna – to understand what are the causes of baldness, the remedies to treat it and if there is an association between Covid and hair loss.
Many men and women after covid consisting of losing hair, is there a link between covid and hair loss?
yes. COVID infection can be followed by increased hair loss, which is seen in about 30% of cases. It is an acute telogen effluvium, that is, a numerical increase in hair that falls out normally. You can get to 1000-2000 hair loss per day, compared to 80-100 for normal hair. The fall appears 1-2 months after infection, and is greater when the infection is associated with the intake of drugs such as heparins and the patient has had strong hypo-oxygenation. Fortunately, post-Covid telogen effluvium has gradually decreased in varying incidence and severity as the virus has changed. To date it has become rare and slight more. In all cases, it is always transient hair loss. However, it is necessary to follow the time over time because hair regrowth in predisposed people can lead to the appearance or worsening of androgenetic alopecia.
What are generally the causes of real hair loss?
Why do Asian countries seem to be less affected by it? The frequent occurrence of hair disease is androgenetic alopecia, or baldness, which affects 50% of males, especially, and after menopause with age above all, and after menopause. For genetics (so there is often familiarity) the hair follicles of the androgen-sensitive areas of the (temples, anterior area and vertex) are too affected by the effect of androgens and gradually shrink and cause the hair production activity. The hair then becomes thinner and shorter in length. There is no reduction in hair disease in Asians.
What are generally the causes of real hair loss?
Why do Asian countries seem to be less affected by it? The frequent occurrence of hair disease is androgenetic alopecia, or baldness, which affects 50% of males, especially, and after menopause with age above all, and after menopause. For genetics (so there is often familiarity) the hair follicles of the androgen-sensitive areas of the (temples, anterior area and vertex) are too affected by the effect of androgens and gradually shrink and cause the hair production activity. The hair then becomes thinner and shorter in length. There is no reduction in hair disease in Asians.
What to do to stop baldness?
There are specific drugs for the treatment of baldness, approved by the health system and with high safety and tolerability: minoxidil lotion and finasteride, available in compress and lotion. The choice is different based on gender, age of the patient, severity of the disease and patient’s aptitude for different types of treatment. The fundamental concept in the treatment of baldness is important: the aspiring cures, and the first effects after 4-6 months, some to become massive after 12-16 months of treatment. If the treatment is effective it must never be stopped, otherwise all effects will be nullified.
Is it possible to prevent it? What advice?
It is not possible to prevent or predict the appearance of androgenetic alopecia and the available genetic tests are not valid, because only a small group of the numerous genes underlying the disease, and the test result is not expected.
Many men come to the transplant. Is it a safe procedure? Who to contact? Are there any risks or side effects?
Hair transplantation is also a valid technique for females, if done by a skilled surgeon. It consists in taking the hair follicles that are not sensitive to androgens from the nuchal region and transferring them to the bald areas of the head. It has no risk and the new techniques allow for rapid wound healing. An expert operator is needed, who knows how to “plant” the right follicles in the right place for an optimal aesthetic result.