The main symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. However, recent reports have suggested that there are other symptoms, including hair loss. 

Covid-19 patients have reported losing clumps of hair during and after they contracted the virus. Some cases have been so extreme that it has left damaging phycological effects on the patients. There seems to be a consistent pattern whereby the excess hair shedding occurs during the recovery stages of the virus. 

Despite these reports, scientists are unable to confirm if hair loss is an actual symptom of Covid-19, as the virus is still very new, and we know so little about it. However, there is a condition known as telogen effluvium, which is a type of baldness often caused by severe illness, stress or significant life changes/events. It is a temporary form of hair loss.

While it’s normal to shed as many as 150 hairs each day, telogen effluvium occurs when there is a big increase in that number of lost hairs a day. Normally, only around 10% of your hair is in the shedding phase, but when you are experiencing telogen effluvium, that increases to around three times that amount, and even more in some cases. 

What is triggering the excess shedding?

Hair loss is not listed as one of the official symptoms of Covid-19, so what exactly is triggering this shedding, and what is the connection with hair loss and Covid-19?  

Telogen effluvium occurs when there is a disruption or change to the hair. This disruption is commonly due to a number of physical stresses to the body, which include:

• high fever (like the flu or Covid-19)
• illness associated with weight loss
• significant stress
  
• crash dieting
• pregnancy/childbirth
• certain medications

It can be months after an illness or a stressful event when you actually start to notice the access hair shedding. An illness, in particular, can severely disrupt the natural hair cycle, causing more shedding. Some people therefore experience hair loss some time after falling ill, which would explain why people are suffering from extreme hair shedding during their recovery from Covid-19.

As we stated earlier, this type of hair loss is not permanent, and typically no treatment is needed. The hair normally grows back once the trigger has gone away. 

So, if you are suffering from severe hair shedding right after illness, or during a stressful time in your life, then fear hot, because the hair will likely grow back. If it doesn't grow back, then you should seek further advice and treatments for the problem.

By David Griffiths 

I often stumble across hair loss treatments on the market that make such far-fetched claims about reversing hair loss. In fact, it's rare that I don't come across at least a handful of new treatments, every single month. 

The real question is: Do any of these treatments actually work, and how effective can they be? In short, the answer is, for the most part, no. There is no known cure for hair loss on the market, and despite what companies like Adegen tell you, that's the harsh reality of the situation.

So, without even trying to get your hopes up about Adegen being a cure for baldness, I'll tell you right now that this product(s) is NOT, in any way, shape or form, a cure for hair loss. 

Having said that, there are treatments on the market that can minimise hair loss, so, if Adegen is not a cure, then how effective can it be for treating hair loss?  Let's delve deeper into this brand to find out... 

What is Adegen?

Founded by John Goss, Adegen is a range of hair products that claim to reverse the effects of baldness and thinning hair in men and women. The range of products include:

Shampoo 

First up, we have what Adegen claim to be "the world's best shampoo" for protecting against thinning hair. According to Adegen's founder, John Goss, he himself spent over $50,000 of his own money testing and analysing different shampoos in laboratories under mass spectrometry to determine their level of active ingredients. When asked if he could prove this claim, Goss did not respond. 

 "...there is absolutely no evidence that this
shampoo can in any way stop hair loss"

Upon close inspection, the shampoo does not contain any revolutionary ingredients that would suggest it can help reverse hair loss or even minimise thinning hair. There is absolutely no evidence of this shampoo being able to do anything that John Goss claims it can do. And at $69.95 per bottle, I am amazed he's got the audacity to charge such an extortionate fee for a shampoo that is nothing more than average, at best. 

Topical Solution

Next up we have the topical solution, which again, the brand makes far-fetched claims about. This solution is basically just Minoxidil (5%), with the addition of Biotin, Niacin and Caffeine. 

Now, if you're not already aware, Minoxidil is the only medically approved topical treatment for hair loss. There are many brands of Minoxidil, and the most commonly known one is Regaine/Rogaine. The Adegen solution would not offer you better results than any other brand of Minoxidil, and so, again, I am astonished by the price tag of $69.95, for this product. You can purchase the near exact same product under a cheaper brand for a fraction of this price. Kirkland, for example, offer Minoxidil in both liquid and foam form, at less than one third of the price of Adegen.  

 "...there is nothing to suggest that this is more
effective than cheaper Minoxidil brands"

If you're looking to try Minoxidil, then you would be far better off buying a cheaper brand, because any results you may have, will be exactly the same. Be warned, though, because although Minoxidil is FDA approved, it is NOT a cure for hair loss. Results tend to be very minimal with Minoxidil, and negative side effects are a common occurrence with many users.

The Brush

I always try to refrain from being cynical when reviewing these sorts of brands, but sometimes it's awfully difficult to keep a straight face. I nearly fell off my chair when I saw what Adegen were charging for their SM Brush. $19.95 for a small piece of plastic???    

 "...Adegen products are simply overpriced
and not very effective"

John Goss claims that, by using the Adegen SM Brush, you are stimulating the scalp and increasing critical circulation while simultaneously removing dandruff, pore-clogging sebum, and increasing the absorption of Adegen Shampoo’s active ingredients to the hair follicle. Now, I'm not saying there isn't some truth in that theory, even if very little, but in reality, if you wanted to stimulate your hair while shampooing, you could quite easily do so with a plastic brush that costs a fraction this one. 

The bottom line is, there isn't a shampoo on the market that can reverse hair loss, so the claim Adegen is making is absolutely false. You would seriously be better off just buying a cheaper shampoo, because the only thing that differentiates Adegen products from others is the price. 

The Roller 

The derma roller is the final product in the Adegen range, and again, like it's counterparts, it doesn't offer anything new in the way of treating hair loss. Derma rollers have been used for treating hair loss for the most part of a decade now, and to be fair, some people have experienced relatively good improvements in their hair. However, I should state that any results from using a derma roller will be minimal, and you should not expect the sort of miracle results that this brand claims. 

 "...a standard derma roller
with a hefty price tag"

Adegen claims that the needle depth and configuration of their derma roller is unique, and that it is more effective than any other on the market. The truth is, there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that this derma roller will offer you better results than any other derma roller on the market, and just to put things into perspective, you can purchase a good derma roller for under $10.00 on places like Amazon. Adegen are charging $69.95 for theirs. I don't know how anyone can justify spending that kind of money on a derma roller. It's just madness! 

So, Who is John Goss?

John Goss is the founder of Adegen. He's put his name and face to the brand, so you can read his 'story' on the Adegen website. 

Much like his eBook, which I'll get onto in a moment, John Goss gives us a very long-winded story about his personal experience with hair loss. You know how it goes - the struggle with hair loss, the depression etc. - all very generic, and something I've read a million times before. 

Then John Goss talks about his determination to come up with a cure for baldness (or how to make money, maybe?). So, we're taken through his process of developing these treatments for hair loss, after years of research and financial spend. This all seems highly exaggerated, as you'd expect from a salesman with this sort of structure to his brand. 

Anyway, you'll see the same kind of thing in John Goss's eBook, Hair Loss Secrets, which is just another very long-winded pitch, eventually leading to the promotion of the Adegen range. 

I have studied the hair loss sector for nearly ten years, and I have reviewed countless brands, treatments and products. I can tell you, there is absolutely nothing in the Adegen range that stands out, or offers anything new or revolutionary. This range contains basic hair products that will NOT treat hair loss to any significant effect.

John Goss also runs a Facebook group called Hair Loss Secrets, which has over 2000 members. Again, much like the whole Adegen brand, it all feels like a cold sales pitch, with the Adegen products at the centre of it all. Member's posts need to be approved by John Goss before they are published, and there appears to be a large number of fake accounts in the group, with fake reviews and testimonials. 

It's pretty evident that much of what Adegen does is fabricated, and manipulated, in order to sell the products. It doesn't appear to be a very honest brand, and John Goss doesn't appear to be a very genuine salesman.

Is it worth trying Adegen products? 

In short, no. Adegen products are simply overpriced, and they will not stop hair loss or reverse it. That's the simple fact of the matter. 

It seems if you dare try to talk about anything other than Adegen products, you will be removed from the Hair Loss Secrets Facebook group, and then blocked.  This has happened to many people. It seems John Goss is particularity intent on keeping the scam-busters at large. 

Aside from the fact John Goss himself has had a hair transplant (I know, you couldn't make it up), he's also claimed to have invested over one million of his own dollars into the brand, and says he "can't keep up with the demand". How much of that stat is true, we don't know, but the bragging gesture says a lot about this man as a person. The disingenuous salesmen are always the ones who like to brag... 

Anyway, that's my take on the whole John Goss/Adegen brand. If you don't want to waste your hard earned money, then stay well clear of Adegen. You would seriously be better off trying treatments that are more affordable, and that actually work!

What else does saw palmetto benefit?

 

Scientists have created a piece of human skin with sprouting hair, that one day might help stop hair loss in both men and women. 

How is hair loss combated through pieces of skin? 

The experiment uses organoids - small, lab grown groupings. Organoids are small, lab-grown cell groupings that are designed to model real-world organs, and in this case, skin. Rather than transplanting hairs, or regrowing them, this develop sees the actual creation of hair, which makes it even more exciting.  

This hair creation is said to be the first of its kind that is made with pluripotent stem cells. The development of organoids was led by Karl Koehler, Ph.D., from Boston Children's Hospital. An Oregon Health & Science University graduate student, Benjamin Woodruff, contributed by helping make the organoids as a post-baccalaureate research technician in the Stanford University lab of Stefan Heller, Ph.D.

The aim of this cell development is to create the human hair, rather than transfer it. For the first time ever, scientists may have found a solution for hair loss. They could have, more or less, an unlimited source of human hair follicles for research. This would be a huge step forward in the process of finding a cure for baldness.

Having access to more hair-growing skin can help researchers better understand hair growth and development -- and maybe even provide clues needed to reverse a retreating hair line. 

Source: Oregon Health & Science University

Is hair creation better than hair transplantation?

If this experiment can come to fruition, then the creation of hair would be a much better solution for hair loss then transplantation. The main reason being, with hair transplants, good donor areas are need to transfer the hair. Without a good donor, the transplantation becomes futile. 

With hair creation, there would be no donor area, or transfer, required. The hair would simply be created, and grown into the scalp. The problem is, even though scientists continue to develop this treatment, it is extremely complex, and any successful hair creation procedure would take a lot of time and money to bring to fruition. 

How likely is it that hair creation will come to market? 

Like any treatment for hair loss, this will take time. If the procedure proves to be successful in labs, it will then need to go through numerous testing phases and stages, and then it will need to be approved by certain organisations before it can be let out onto the public. 

Even if proven as a cure for baldness, expect this procedure to be very expensive, and not something that is accessible to the average earner. In a similar way to hair transplantation, the people who benefit from hair creation will be the wealthiest among our society. 

What current hair loss treatments on the market are effective? 

While we wait for developments to occur, there are ways in which you can treat and minimise hair loss, both safely and effectively. 

There are currently two medically approved hair loss treatments on the market. The first one is Finasteride - a prescription oral pill for male pattern baldness. The other one is Minoxidil - a topical treatment for men (5%) and women (2%). 

The problem is, both drugs, particularly Finasteride, can come with negative side-effects, which puts your health at risk. Common negative side-effects for Finasteride include; Low libido, erectile dysfunction, skin rash, mental health issues, and hormonal changes. 

Common negative side-effects for Minoxidil include; Dizziness, headaches, weight gain, and skin rash. However, Minoxidil is generally regarded as a safer drug to use than Finasteride. 

If, like many hair loss sufferers, you are looking to avoid the negative side-effects of medically approved drugs, then fear not, because there are some products on the market that can help slow down, and even halt hair loss, and support and promote healthy hair growth, both safely and effectively. 

The most popular natural treatments for hair loss include: 

• Hair laser treatment - According to a 2014 study, low-level laser therapy appeared to be safe and effective for hair growth in both men and women. A 2013 study of 41 males ages 18 to 48 found that laser hair treatment provided a 39 percent increase in hair growth over a period of 16 weeks. Common hair laser products include infrared hair combs/brushes and helmets. 
• Natural topical hair treatment - Natural lotions, serums, and oils can help slow down hair loss and revitalise hair growth, but the effectiveness of these types of products is limited. Hair growth serums with Keratin and Saw Palmetto are particular popular for treating hair loss. 
• Micro-needling - While used as an anti-aging skin treatment, micro-needling may also be a method of treatment for hair loss. There's even evidence that it can help a special type of hair loss known as alopecia areata. The same process of creating wounds in the skin is also thought to regenerate the health of the hair follicles. A product to use for this method is the derma roller.
  
• Multi-vitamin supplements -  Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, zinc, folic acid, biotin, Nettle Leaf, Green Tea and Saw Palmetto, can all help improve hair condition, so you're likely to find a combination of some or all of them in a range of multi-vitamin hair growth supplements. Omega 3 and 6 have also been shown to protect against hair loss and improve hair diameter and density in studies.