When Ms Nina Tan, 32, found that she was losing her hair at an alarming rate in early 2022, she was bewildered. The local influencer searched high and low for a cure, but nothing seemed to work.
Chalking it up to stress, she posted some pictures and wrote: "Really want to document my new botak-ness. Introducing three bald spots on my head that send chills down my spine whenever there is a cold breeze."
Ms Tan's story went viral after it was picked up by several news outlets. She was surprised to find herself inundated with "hundreds of messages" from followers and supporters who were going through the same problem.
"Many of them told me they had lost their hair after falling ill with Covid-19. I, too, had just recovered from Covid-19 for several weeks before my hair began to fall out," she says.
Covid-19 is commonly characterised by a persistent cough and a mild fever. But some have also reported losing their hair after being infected. This phenomenon known as Covid-related hair loss has been well documented in several medical journals around the world.
A 2022 peer-reviewed study conducted in Saudi Arabia showed that 52.7 per cent of 806 participants experienced hair loss after Covid-19 infection. Meanwhile, a more recent study published in peer-reviewed medical journal Nature Medicine analysed the electronic health records of 2.4 million people in Britain from January 2020 to April 2021 and found that hair loss was one of the more than 60 symptoms associated with long Covid.
In Singapore, the founder of herbal hair care centre TwoHerbs, Mr Riff Lim, 38, has noticed an increase in the number of patients seeking help for hair loss since the pandemic began.
"These days, we usually encounter customers with Covidrelated hair loss. several times a week," he says. One of them is property agent Clarence Tan, who began losing his hair a month or two after contracting Covid-19.
This story is from the January 27, 2023 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 27, 2023 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Second Olympics beckon for Singapore fencer Kiria
As national fencer Kiria Tikanah Abdul Rahman celebrated her victory over India's Taniksha Khatri at the Asia-Oceania Zonal Olympic Qualifier on April 28, the 23-yearold knew she had gained more than just an Olympic spot.
GUNNERS SHOW TITLE FORM WITH SPURS WIN
Saka hails calm display in frantic game as lesson learnt from botched attempt in 2023
RECORD INTEREST TO HOST OLYMPICS
Bach reveals double-digit’ candidates for 2036; Summer Games may move to autumn
Six-star England seal Grand Slam hat-trick
England ran in six tries to win a sixth successive Women's Six Nations rugby title with a 42-21 victory over hosts France in their championship decider at the Stade Chaban Delmas in Bordeaux on April 27.
LEBRON KEEPS LAKERS ALIVE
He scores 14 of 30pts in fourth quarter to close out Game 4 against the Nuggets
SCOUT SHOWS THE WAY FOR IN-FORM PACIFIC STABLE
Pacific Scout provides middle pin of treble for all-conquering Malaysian connections
Singapore bankers take home less than HK peers in 2023: Report
Some banking professionals in Republic suffer harshest cuts in the Asia-Pacific
Markets remain nervous as sticky inflation data stands in way of rate cuts
Biggest event of the week will be Fed’s next rate decision, which is due on May
Tesla drops plan for new models of affordable cars
It will now use current product lines as the basis for cheaper electric vehicles
Will collagen in bubble tea really make your skin more supple?
Not enough evidence to show how effective it is to consume such beverages, say experts