COVID-19-induced Scalp Alopecia Treated Effectively with Stem Cell Serum

ABSTRACT

Summary: Up to 36.7% of symptomatic COVID-19 patients will have telogen effluvium (TE), which refers to diffuse scalp alopecia. With the continuing global pandemic, a review of literature reports unpredictable and incomplete recovery with conventional treatment like minoxidil. The pathogenesis of COVID-19-induced TE may be more severe than that of conventional TE as the hair follicles are proposed to be directly damaged by cytokines and thromboembolism. There is no current standardized treatment for COVID-19-induced TE. We present a patient with severe chronic TE, with no spontaneous recovery after 6 months of hair loss and minimal response to minoxidil. We commenced monthly applications of stem cell serum (Calecim). We present the results of five treatments spaced monthly, after which he experienced effective regrowth of scalp hair. We propose stem cell serum for patients who have failed conventional treatment or as an adjunct to conventional therapy in COVID-19-induced TE.