Category: Covid

Covid Hair Fall- what to do.

by publisher, posted in Covid, Hair Problems

Research now shows that COVID-19 has some long-lasting effects. Though hair loss (telogen effluvium) is not a known COVID-19 symptom, many are increasingly experiencing this condition during and post- COVID.

The pandemic has been a cause of stress, and many who have not been infected with COVID see a lot of hair fall.

Some of the factors that cause excessive hair loss include

  • Stressful events
  • Medicines
  • Nutritional deficiencies

Hair loss usually occurs 2-3 months after the trigger event, and it is usually self‐restraining. The time gap is because of the numerous stages of the hair cycle. Around 75% are in the growing phase, 15% resting, and around 10% are shedding.
Therefore, a person encountering a highly stressful life situation sees some of their hair prematurely pushed into the shedding phase.

 

Is hair fall adding to your stress?

A few factors that cause excess hair fall during COVID and what you can do about it:

  1. Stress- Take time out to meditate and relax with some activities you enjoy at home.
  2. Oxidative damage– The body is fighting the disease. There are also a lot of medicines prescribed to aid the body in fighting the disease. The reactions in the body release plenty of free radicals. Consuming antioxidants help reduce these stressors.
  3. Inflammation- Patients infected with the virus may have uncontrolled inflammation leading to a cytokine storm. It is essential to consume anti-inflammatory food and supplements to help control the inflammation.
  4. Lack of nutrition- The body needs excess nutrients and starts using up the reserves. We all know that the smell and taste get affected during covid. COVID being a disease of isolation, the food intake gradually becomes less. Therefore, it is important to focus on eating well.

How do you take care of hair fall?

  1. Correct oiling habits: Don’t massage. Be gentle with the scalp. Warm the oil and apply it to every root. It will soothe your scalp.
  2. Good nutritious food: The diet plays a significant role in keeping your hair healthy.
  3. The Right supplements: Along with the medicines prescribed, it would help if you had something that safeguards you from inside.

What supplements are beneficial during this time?

  1. Ra Anagen – Full of beneficial amino acids, yeast, B vitamins, trace elements like zinc sulfate and melatonin. It arrests hair fall, strengthens hair follicles and improves hair health.
  2. Ra Vitamin C+ – Helps fight free radicals, boosts immunity, stimulates collagen, and reverses signs of ageing.
  3. RA Essential – Set of essential multivitamins, amino acids, fatty acids, micro-nutrients & minerals. It provides nutrition at the cellular level.
  4. RA Bright – Fortified with four powerful antioxidants to minimize free radical damage.
  5. RA Defense – Fortified with traditional ingredients like ginger, turmeric, piperine, milk Thistle, and beta carotene. It reduces inflammation.

When you get infected, your body is focusing on healing and repairing itself. Hence more nutrients are utilized by these functions and less on hair growth.

“It is essential to take good care of yourself while recovering from this disease. Eat a balanced diet with plenty of nutrients, rest, take your supplements and exercise regularly,” advises Dr. Vimal Rai.

Consult your dermatologist if the problem lasts longer than six months. If a rash and other issues accompany the hair shedding, it could be other skin issues that need to be medically examined. Your dermatologist can assist you with your hair-related issues by suggesting treatments online.

After Getting A COVID-19 Vaccine

by publisher, posted in Covid

What To Expect After Getting A COVID-19 Vaccine

Once you finally get the COVID-19 vaccine, it’s normal to get some side effects because that’s how the body functions – it’s adjusting and building protection. They might affect your ability to do daily chores, but they’ll last only for a few days. The common side effects are:

On the arm where you were given the shot you may experience:

  • Pain
  • Redness
  • Swelling

Rest of the body:

  • Tiredness
  • Headache
  • Muscle pain
  • Chills
  • Fever
  • Nausea

Also, you are advised a 1-hour cooling down time right after taking the vaccination. This is to monitor you for any possible side effects like dizziness, nausea, vomiting and any of the other symptoms mentioned above.

If you’re facing any discomfort or mild pain, talk to your doctor about taking a painkiller or any over-the-counter medication. To reduce pain in the arm where you were given the shot:

  • Keep a clean, wet and slightly cool washcloth over the area
  • Keep exercising your arm by doing your usual activities (try to avoid keeping it still for long)

If you have a fever, reduce discomfort by:

  • Drinking plenty of fluids
  • Dressing lightly

When to call the doctor:

As stated earlier, initial discomfort and pain are normal. Contact your doctor or healthcare provider if:

  • The redness/tenderness where you were given the shot increases after 24 hours
  • If the side effects don’t go after a few days

Keep in mind:

  • Side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days.
  • With some Coronavirus vaccinations, you’ll need 2 shots. Even if you get side effects you should still get the second shot, unless the vaccine provider explicitly tells you not to.
  • Your body needs time to build protection after any vaccination. The COVID-19 vaccines that require 2 shots will take full effect only 2 weeks after your second shot.
  • Once you are fully vaccinated, you can continue living your life normally and start doing all the things you usually would do.

All in all, we should be grateful to the medical community, They made vaccines available to at least keep the elderly safe while the rest of us continue to practice the same safety measures till the vaccines are made available to us too.

Stay safe. Stay protected.