Actress Alyssa Milano Pleading With Others To 'Wear A Damn Mask' After Discovering Unusual COVID-19 Symptom During Recovery

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Researchers are finding unusual symptoms related to COVID-19 -- one being hair loss. Actress Alyssa Milano, who says she's recovering from the coronavirus, is on social media showing people what can happen.

Doctors say they're seeing a growing number of cases of "shock hair loss" due to what they're calling pandemic stress.

Milano, who initially tested negative, says she had traditional symptoms -- a fever, trouble breathing and headaches. And then four months later, she posted a video of what happened.

"I just wanted to show you the amount of hair coming out of my head as a result of COVID," said Milano.

Milano posted a video on Twitter, demonstrating hair loss she blames on having been infected with COVID-19.

"One brushing, this is my hair loss from COVID-19. Wear a damn mask," she said.

While it is not a symptom on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's official list, a recent survey found about 26% of people with long-term coronavirus symptoms said they experienced hair loss.

The 1,500 patients interviewed were asked about symptoms not on the CDC list -- things like weight gain, clogged ears and hair loss.

"This is a new virus, we're always learning things from it," said Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley.

It's unclear if there's a direct connection to the virus but some doctors think the hair loss could be related to the stress of having COVID-19.

They say there's generally a two- to three-month lag between a stressful event and the onset of hair loss, which is why we're seeing these patients now.

"When there's a big stress, whether it's physical, emotional, you get sick, anxiety -- really any big shock to your system can push up to 50% of those hairs prematurely into your shedding phase," said Dr. Shilpi Khetarpal.

Doctors say that shock hair loss isn't unusual and is commonly experienced by women a few weeks after childbirth.

It usually grows back on its own within about six months but reducing stress and a healthy diet can help.

"We know things like protein are the building blocks for our hair, our skin, our nails, so make sure you're eating a diet, you know, that has a higher protein," Dr. Khetarpal said.

Researchers are investigating whether there's a direct link between the virus and hair loss.

Milano, who says she felt like she was dying, wants people to know the virus is not a hoax and that she'll be donating plasma blood in hopes of helping others.

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