Yes. Medical illnesses are a well-recognized cause of hair loss, and they can affect both men and women. Hair loss related to medical conditions may be temporary or long-term, depending on the underlying cause, its severity, and how early it is identified and treated.
Because hair follicles are highly sensitive to changes in metabolism, hormones, inflammation, and physiological stress, many systemic conditions can disrupt the normal hair growth cycle.
Additional Media Coverage
Some medical events cause temporary hair shedding, often due to stress on the body rather than permanent damage to hair follicles. This type of hair loss is commonly referred to as telogen effluvium.
Common short-term triggers include acute illness or high fever, severe infections, major surgery, significant emotional or physical stress, rapid weight loss, childbirth, severe nutritional deficiency, and certain medications.
In these cases, hair shedding usually begins two to four months after the triggering event and often improves once the body recovers and the underlying issue is addressed.
Long-Term or Chronic Medical Conditions Associated With Hair Loss
Other medical conditions can cause ongoing or progressive hair loss, especially if not properly diagnosed or managed.
These include thyroid disorders, hormonal imbalances such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), autoimmune diseases including alopecia areata or lupus, iron deficiency anemia, chronic inflammatory or systemic illnesses, and long-term medication use.
COVID-Related Hair Loss
During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians observed a noticeable increase in patients reporting hair shedding following infection.
COVID-related hair loss is most commonly a form of telogen effluvium, triggered by high fever, systemic inflammation, physical stress from infection, and emotional stress associated with illness or recovery.
Hair shedding typically begins several weeks to a few months after COVID infection and, in most cases, is temporary. Regrowth often occurs once the body recovers and the hair growth cycle normalizes.
Dr. Abraham Armani was featured in national media during this period discussing COVID-related hair loss, helping to educate the public that this type of shedding—while alarming—was usually reversible and not permanent.
How Medical Hair Loss Is Evaluated
Because hair loss can be multifactorial, evaluation often includes a review of medical history and recent illnesses, medication use, family history, pattern and distribution of hair loss, and laboratory testing when indicated.
When Hair Transplantation May or May Not Be Appropriate
Hair transplantation is not typically recommended for hair loss caused by active medical illness or diffuse shedding. Surgery is only considered once the medical condition is stable, hair loss has stopped progressing, donor hair quality is adequate, and expectations are realistic.
Dr. Armani’s Perspective
When hair loss is caused by a medical condition, the priority is always diagnosis and stabilization. Hair transplantation should never be rushed in these cases. The goal is to understand whether hair loss is temporary, reversible, or truly permanent before considering surgical intervention. — Dr. Abraham Armani, MD
Additional Media Coverage & Audio Resource
Dr. Abraham Armani previously appeared in national media discussing medical-related hair loss, including COVID-associated hair shedding, its causes, and expected recovery. The information presented here reflects a summary of those discussions. For more information, you may listen to the audio segment available below or explore the related media coverage.
