Understand the link between HIV and hair loss, causes like ART side effects, and effective ways to restore and maintain healthy hair.<\/p>\n
You notice more hair in the shower drain. You tell yourself it\u2019s just stress. But deep down, you wonder, could it be something more?<\/p>\n
Hair loss can be alarming to anyone. For individuals living with HIV, it often raises even more questions and concerns. Does the virus cause it? The medication? Or something else entirely?<\/p>\n
Here is the catch: if you are living with HIV, hair loss mostly happens as a result of other factors related to the infection, but not the virus directly. Medication side effects, nutritional deficiencies, chronic illness, stress, and secondary infections can cause hair loss.<\/p>\n
HIV (short for human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight against infection. [1] The virus weakens your immune system by destroying your T-cells. This makes you vulnerable to infections.<\/p>\n
If left untreated on time, the virus can increase the risk of secondary infections. This can make it possible for the virus to affect every part of the body, including skin and hair. A weakened immune system can indirectly affect hair follicles through several factors, including malnutrition and the side effects of medication. [2]<\/p>\n
HIV is not typically a direct cause of hair loss. Instead, hair loss is often caused by indirect factors, such as the medications used to treat the infection, nutritional deficiencies, and other opportunistic infections.<\/p>\n