"Sudden Circular Hair Loss"... 20s Woman Claims Multiple 'Corona' Infections Responsible

"Hair Loss After 8th COVID-19 Diagnosis"
Medical Staff Also Postpone Accurate Cause Determination

A woman living in the UK reportedly suffered from sudden hair loss after being infected with COVID-19 eight times. The correlation between COVID-19 infection and hair loss has been raised several times before, but no definitive evidence has yet been established.

Recently, the British media outlet Daily Mail highlighted the experience of Lydia Molly, a 23-year-old woman residing in Newport, Wales. Molly experienced clumps of hair falling out while showering in November last year. As the hair loss worsened, she visited a hospital and was diagnosed with alopecia areata, a condition where the immune system attacks hair follicles causing circular bald patches on the crown.

A woman in her 20s who experienced circular hair loss symptoms after being infected with COVID-19 eight times [Image source=TikTok capture]

The cause of Molly’s sudden hair loss remains unknown. Medical professionals suggested that stress might have played a role, but Molly claimed she is not usually prone to stress. Instead, she pointed to COVID-19 as the cause of her hair loss. It is reported that she had been infected with COVID-19 eight times from 2020 to the present.

Within just five months after being diagnosed with alopecia areata, Molly lost 80% of her hair. She stated, "It seems my immune system weakened after having COVID-19 multiple times. I contracted my eighth COVID-19 infection last November, and since then my hair started falling out."

Medical staff also speculated that the hair loss could be due to the long-term effects of COVID-19 infection but withheld judgment on the exact cause. As the hair loss worsened, Molly shaved her head and donated the remaining hair. After shaving, she said, "My bald head with full makeup actually suits me," and added, "Since shaving, I have been experiencing regrowth." She also shared words of comfort on social media platforms like TikTok for women who have had similar experiences.

This is not the first time hair loss has been suggested as a sequela of COVID-19. Experiences of long COVID symptoms, including decreased libido, general weakness, fatigue, cough, alopecia areata, and pulmonary fibrosis, have been shared multiple times.

However, whether long-term sequelae of COVID-19 truly exist remains uncertain. Most long COVID symptoms are recorded based on individual patient surveys. Nonetheless, since COVID-19 affects various parts of the body such as the respiratory system, some experts emphasize the need for long-term rest, stress management, and improvement of quality of life.