Does Covid affect Nails, Skin and Hair?

Three areas of our body are vital in both natural and cosmetic senses: hair, skin, and nails. Health indicators serve as a gauge of our well-being. Concerning covid-19, several effects have been observed on human health.

This blog explains the impact of Covid-19 on Nails, Hair, and Skin. Let’s dive in:

Effects on Hair

Hair Loss is a common symptom of the COVID-19 pandemic. The physical and emotional stress that accompanies this pandemic has led to a condition called telogen effluvium, which can lead to reversible hair loss.

The condition occurs after a stressful event, such as surgery or a major illness. After a stressful event, your body shifts more hair to the resting phase of the hair growth cycle, leading to hair loss. It’s reversible, but it can take a while to recover from hair loss.

Some people have also reported thyroid or nutritional deficiencies as the cause of their hair loss. Thyroid function is often suppressed during times of stress, which can cause an imbalance in how much energy your body receives from its thyroid gland. This can lead to stunted growth and even malnutrition.

It’s important to note that there is no evidence that COVID-19 directly causes hair loss. But, some other factors may contribute towards developing this condition: shock; dehydration; vitamin B12 deficiency; poor diet; hormonal imbalances; poor nutrition; excessive heat exposure (like from hot tubs); high levels of stress, etc.

Effects On Skin

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some people have reported having illnesses that include skin irritation and abnormalities.

The most common symptoms are widespread small red bumps and various flat red patches.

There is also an increased risk of conjunctival infection.

Chilblain-like symptoms, called ‘COVID toes’, may also occur. This can lead to a corneal infection, which causes a chalky white coating on the eye’s surface. Symptoms include water blisters, itching and burning of the cornea.

Some people report having hives or urticaria. Others experience eczema-like skin conditions or rash associated with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children or MIS-C.

Skin infections can be treated with topical ointments such as calamine lotion or other remedies recommended by your doctor. It is important to keep your skin clean so that these infections do not get worse! 

Effects On Nails:

The appearance of lines and groves in fingernails after being infected with COVID-COVID is called Beau’s Lines. They are not particularly associated with COVID but can occur because of any underlying health or systemic condition.

According to a study in AFP, many factors cause this change in the appearance of fingernails:

- Having clubbed nails may state lung or inflammatory bowel problems.

- Nails with spoon-shaped tips (koilonychia) may state anaemia or hemochromatosis (high iron levels in the blood).

- Onycholysis, or separation of the nails from the nail bed, is a sign of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). The symptom sometimes doesn’t occur at all; it can also be a cause of diabetes, pneumonia, zinc deficiency, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Whereas, for the above symptoms, Vitamin E plays an immense role in keeping the skin, nails, and hair healthy. Bliss Welness Vitamin E Capsules with the goodness of aloe vera, and Argon Oil, which protects the hair, gives a lustrous shine and strengthens hair from its roots. It also provides the utmost hydration and helps reduce dark spots and acne.

However, the long-term effects of using Covid-19 are also unclear and need to be further evaluated. The mechanism of action, namely the effect it has on hair follicles, is still not understood, so more research is needed in this area.