Is it possible to be so sick that you start to lose your hair? Can a high fever cause hair shedding? Sometimes when you are sick and have a high fever, your body undergoes high levels of stress. When this happens, various factors impact your body's functions, including the growth of your hair.Is it possible to be so sick that you start to lose your hair? Can a high fever cause hair shedding? Sometimes when you are sick and have a high fever, your body undergoes high levels of stress. When this happens, various factors impact your body's functions, including the growth of your hair.
Of course, every individual and illness is unique, but you should talk to your doctor about any changes that occur when you are ill, including unexpected hair loss or increased shedding.
What Happens When You Have a High Fever?
When a virus or bacterial infection attacks your body, your immune system does everything possible to fight back. However, as your body fights off the invading germs, your body temperature may elevate. Sometimes you develop a very high fever, and while medications may reduce the fever and make you more comfortable, your body is still fighting to get you healthy and back on your feet.
For instance, if you have a bad cold, medicine can help reduce the fever, but it's still up to your immune system to keep fighting to rid your body of the germs causing your illness. Your fever is an indication of how hard your immune system is working. As your body fights the germs, it pulls energy and resources from bodily functions that are less important such as hair growth.
When this occurs, you may notice a sudden and sometimes significant increase in the amount of hair you shed. The interruption of energy and resources caused by your illness can cause your hair follicles to stop growing hair. As a result, it's not unusual for some hair to begin shedding before it normally would during your hair's natural growth cycle.
Unfortunately, as you begin to recover from your illness, you may start to lose your hair. While thinning hair or hair loss is not experienced by everyone who gets a high fever, it can happen.
What Happens When You Lose Your Hair?
In most cases, your body will heal at the cellular level as your immune system overcomes your illness. Throughout the healing process, bodily functions turned off or turned down during the illness will resume. It's important to understand that having a high fever does not necessarily mean that the fever is the cause of your hair loss. Medications and stress on the body can play a significant role.
Most people will see their hair growth return to normal, but it will take time. Your natural hair growth cycle will resume, but it will return to the normal cycle. However, it could take a few months for your body to return to its natural rhythm and your hair growth to return to normal.
What Should You Do If You Notice Hair Shedding?
If you notice clumps of hair suddenly falling out, it's vital to talk to your doctor. While your hair loss may result from your high fever, it can also be caused by the medications or treatments used to fight the illness. The important thing to remember is that increased hair shedding is usually a side effect and that as you recover and your body returns to normal, your hair growth should also return to normal.
You can help promote the regrowth of your hair by eating healthy and working to boost your immune system. Over time, most people see their hair growth return to normal after recovery. However, if, after a few months, your hair is still thinning, you should consult with a specialist. At New Image Hair Clinic, our team of hair specialists can help you determine if your hair loss is related to your fever or if other factors are potentially causing the issue. To learn more about how a high fever can affect the growth of your hair, contact us today and schedule your FREE initial consultation.