The COVID-19 pandemic has completely taken over our lives since it began last year. All aspects of our lives are now dependent on the ever-evolving pandemic. Initially, not enough information was available about the virus and its effects on humans due to a lack of research on it.
The various studies that are now being constantly done on the Coronavirus to know more about it, have revealed that respiratory symptoms like cough, shortness of breath, etc are not the only manifestations of the virus.
The Coronavirus also affects other systems of the body like the digestive system, skin, hair, etc. With these observations, it is now important to know and treat these symptoms accordingly in patients who experience them.
In this article, we will discuss the various effects the virus can have on your skin and hair. How to identify them and what to do if you suffer from them.
Table of Content
Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye:
- What are the signs of COVID-19 is spreading to your skin
- Can COVID-19 cause hair loss?
- How to prevent yourself from COVID-19 side-effects?
What are the signs of COVID-19 spreading to your skin?
The skin is the largest organ of our body and newer studies have shown a significant correlation between the coronavirus and skin problems that are being experienced by a lot of people in the world.
The first symptom that is generally seen and often ignored by patients is the development of an erythematous and itchy lesion on the skin. People can often confuse this with any regular rash that occurs normally or because of any seasonal or specific allergy.
But now that we know that this virus also has skin manifestations, any rash or redness, or bumps of any kind should not be dismissed because studies have shown that the development of rash in the early stages could point towards a more severe disease in patients.
Some of the signs that indicate the virus spreading to the skin include the following:
- Development of a rash
- COVID toes
- Dry and chapped lips
Development of a rash
As the virus spreads to the arteries and veins in the body of the individual, inflammation occurs in and around the blood vessels causing substances to leak out of them. This is usually seen on the outer skin of the person in the form of a rash.
The skin is red and itchy. You might also sometimes feel the bumpiness of the skin because of the rash. While this rash was initially seen in children, adults are also showing the development of rashes over their bodies due to this infection.
This rash typically develops all over your body sparing only the stomach, chest, facial area, and scalp. The redness of the skin can also be due to the changing oxygen levels of the blood because of the virus. So, anything like this should be immediately reported to a dermatologist in Delhi.
COVID toes
This is another symptom that was first discovered in children but is now commonly observed in adults as well.
The spread of this infection can cause inflammation, swelling, lesions, and discoloration in the fingers and toes, very similar to frostbite.
These lesions can even cause pain, itching, and blistering in the patients who suffer from it. Any blisters on the extremities should never be taken lightly. So, in case you or your family members start experiencing any such symptom, report these to a Skin Specialist in Delhi at the earliest.
Dry and chapped lips
Dry lips have been frequently seen in patients suffering from this infection. These can also cause infection in the mouth and cause oral soreness.
Drying of lips can also be due to a deficiency of fluids while the patient is recovering. Thus, it is essential that the patients take ample amounts of fluid during the course of their illness.
Changing the color of the lips (lips turning blue) is a very important sign of dropping oxygen levels in the patient and should be taken very seriously.
Can COVID-19 cause hair loss?
Recent studies have shown people to suffer from hair loss because of COVID. While it is not really surprising to see hair fall in a febrile illness, it is important to decide whether or not the coronavirus causes hair fall.
When the patients recover from the fever, they might notice a loss of chunks of hair while taking a shower or brushing their hair. This happens because of a phenomenon known as telogen effluvium (TE). During this process, more hair is shed from the scalp than is being formed and this is commonly seen in patients recovering from fever.
Another cause of telogen effluvium (TE) is stress. The COVID-19 is definitely both mentally and physically stressful for the patients. This can also be a cause of hair fall that is being experienced by the patients.
While proper and detailed research is still needed to establish a definite correlation, it has been observed that people suffering from serious COVID have reported hair loss of varying degrees.
While in most people, this issue resolves by itself in about 2 to 3 months, it is better to consider taking hair fall treatment in Delhi. The doctors will be able to assess your situation better and advise you accordingly.
How to prevent yourself from COVID-19 side-effects?
The best way to prevent COVID-19 side effects is by preventing the infection itself. For that, you should follow all the necessary protocol like:
- Leave your house when absolutely necessary.
- Using double masks and face shields while going out.
- Get vaccinated at the earliest.
- Practice strict hand hygiene.
- Practice strict social distancing at all times, etc.
If you are already suffering from COVID-19, there are certain things that you can do to protect yourself from side effects on your hair and skin, which include:
- Seek immediate medical care if you experience any symptoms related to COVID.
- Take proper medications according to your doctor’s advice.
- Take proper nutrition during COVID-19 and recovery. Taking a protein-rich diet is extremely important to prevent any side effects on hair and skin.
- Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day.
- Take proper rest and sleep well.
- Do some meditation or yoga to calm your mind and reduce stress and anxiety caused by COVID-19.
Take Away
This was a brief article on the effects of the Coronavirus on your skin and hair. For further information, contact a Healthcare professional who will be able to guide you better.
At Desmoderm, which has the best dermatologists in Delhi, you will get the right information and treatment according to your concerns and problems. You can trust the surgeons completely who have years of experience with expertise in their respective fields.