Connection between Hair Loss and Covid Vaccine?

[Ladygolf]

Hi All, I have had ET for 16 years and on HU for 14. I experienced significant hair loss at the beginning but it let up after the first year. I have been on higher doses but for the last year I have been on 2 a day with platelets staying between 700-900. About 6 months ago I started experiencing heavy hair loss to the point where I now wear a wiglet that clips on top when I go out. I have had 3 primary Pfizer vaccinations and a primary Moderna last week. The hair loss started just after my 3rd jab in August. I’m wondering if there is any connection between the hair loss and the vaccine or maybe an interaction with the HU. Has anyone else experienced this?

[Charliegirl551]

Hi yes I suffered hair loss after the 2nd vaccination. I’ve been in hydroxycarbomide for 6 years and had no problems with hair loss during this time. I had wondered if there was some interaction between the medication and vaccine. I’ve had the first booster but I’m not sure about having more.

[Ladygolf in reply to Charliegirl551]

It seemed like more than coincidence to me as well after being on HU for 14 years.

[MWxxxx]

I have suffered quite a lot of hair loss, mine looks dreadful now. I am on HU (for about 3 or 4 years). It is a side effect of HU. I suppose it could be possible that there is some sort of interaction between the HU and vaccine. I have certainly noticed my hair loss to be signifcantly worse in the past 12 months, obviously over which I have now had 4 vaccines. But that could easily be down to coincidence too. I feel really sad about my hair and terribly self concious but I guess it is the price I have to pay to stay alive. I would rather have the vaccine and lose the lot than face the stress of catching covid every day. Ferratin is also a known hair loss factor and I know mine is always really low - so much so that I have had to have carefully regulated iron tablets a couple of times. Maybe worth checking your ferratin levels?

[Ladygolf in reply to MWxxxx]

Thanks for the reply. I will check about my ferritin. I am still hoping my hair will grow back but I know realistically that it’s very unlikely. I’ve kept my 16 year ET journey quite private and hate looking like a cancer patient now.

[hunter5582]

You already know that hair loss (alopecia) is a common adverse effect from HU. There is some evidence in the literature about hair loss associated with the COVID vaccine but it is very rare. Your notion about a possible interaction between HU and the COVID vaccine is plausible but I doubt there is enough evidence in research to prove it one way or the other.

bostonherald.com/2021/12/03...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/347...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Ladygolf in reply to hunter5582]

Thank you hunter for your research based reply. I have a good friend with an autoimmune disease (vitiligo) who also lost her hair after vaccine. I take levothyroxine for hypothyroidism and also receive steroid injections from my rheumatologist so I guess hair loss could be related to any of these in combination with vaccine.

[hunter5582 in reply to Ladygolf]

Levothyroxine also makes the alopecia list. Maybe it is some unusual combination effect. Hope it resolves.

[Meatloaf9]

Hi, I have had some hair loss since taking HU. I am 72 and PV. I have been taking HU since last July. Interesting that you are wondering about a side effect of the vaccine. My diagnosis was ET until last March when my first CBC after taking 2 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and my HCT which had been between 46 - 48 for the last 4 years suddenly jumped to 55.5. I don't know if there is any connection but find it interesting that it happened at that time. I did not have any increase after 3rd dose of vaccine but I was on HU at that time. Best to you always.

[Ladygolf in reply to Meatloaf9]

Thanks for replying. I had platelets rise from 569 in September when I got my 3rd dose to 920 in December. My MPN specialist increased my dose this month but I have had a 4th dose a week ago so will be interesting to see next platelet count in 2 weeks.