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Facts about STDs and hair loss

hair loss

hair loss

Sexually transmitted diseases, like any other chronic illnesses, are traumatizing since they hide in places out of sight. In fact, most of them can be dormant or asymptomatic for a very long time. And for this, it is possible for a person to have STD without knowing.

Furthermore, when STDs start showing symptoms, they may appear like other, more harmless conditions such as hair loss. In this article, we’ll look at the facts about STDs and hair loss and ways you can follow to protect yourself.

STDs that cause hair loss.

It is important to note that hair loss is not a common STD symptom. Only two types of STDs are the common culprits causing hair loss-syphilis and HIV. Even so, hair loss is not one of their typical symptoms.

However, these infections occasionally bring hair loss. It is therefore important for sexually active persons to know that hair loss can be a sign of serious sexually transmitted disease, so they should regularly go for

Below are the detailed discussions of these STDs that cause hair loss.

  1. Syphilis and hair loss.

Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is spread via sexual contact with an infected person. Syphilis has different stages of development, with each stage having varied symptoms.

The first stage starts with a painless sore on the genitals, mouth, or rectum. The sore usually disappears on its own, ushering in the second phase, which is characterized by rashes. After this stage, the symptoms remain dormant until the last phase, which can appear after years.

While the symptoms of the initial stages do not directly link to hair loss, still syphilis can cause a hair loss condition known as the syphilitic alopecia.

Syphilitic alopecia is a known syphilis-related hair problem. It is characterized by diffusely thin hair on the whole scalp or patches that appear like moth-eaten on the head. Once a person is diagnosed with syphilitic hair loss, they will be put on medication for the underlying syphilis causes, which will take around three months to start showing healing results.

The medication often involves at least two courses of prescription-only oral antibiotic drugs. Remember, the final stage of syphilis can cause serious health complications such as brain, nerves, heart, and eye damage if left untreated.

  1. HIV and hair loss.

Since HIV invades and inhibits the immune system, it increases the chances for other opportunistic infections, including the ones causing hair loss. A different condition that causes hair loss may include anemia or iron deficiency characterized by low blood ironstones.

Additionally, conditions like the alopecia, which is linked to compromised immune systems, may create a favorable ground for excessive hair loss in people living with HIV and AIDs. Thyroid dysfunction has also been linked to hair loss in people living with HIV because abnormal thyroid hormone levels will trigger hair loss.

Thyroid hormones are responsible for controlling metabolism, which converts food to energy in the body.

Another common cause of hair loss in people with HIV through temporary is halogen effluvium. This is a temporal loss of hair due to a traumatizing experience. Of course, HIV diagnosis can be traumatic at first, and you may act strong, but deep down, the feeling may be stressful, and you may end up losing some hair during the period before acceptance.

Although hair loss has been a common symptom of HIV and related treatment plans for a long time, with the advancement in modern medication plans, and antiretroviral therapies, it is no longer a major concern.

In fact, people living with the disease can continue living long lives with many conditions affecting their lives, such as hair loss.

Conclusions.

Many people worldwide are experiencing different forms of hair loss, and only a small portion of these can be linked to STDs.

Nevertheless, if you start experiencing hair loss alongside some symptoms of sexually transmitted infections, it is advised that you get tested as soon as possible. Talk to your intimate partner about the signs and visit a professional health provider together.

This will help find the underlying cause of the hair loss and ascertain the presence of an STD before proceeding to the next course of treatment.