Correlation Between Interest in COVID-19 Hair Loss and COVID-19 Surges: Analysis of Google Trends

In general, COVID-19 has been accompanied by reports of increased mental health stress; this has serious implications for the psychosocial well-being of the overall population given the most recent emergence and surge of the omicron variant, characterized by unprecedented infectivity and spread [2,3]. Since both stress and infection are potential factors leading to telogen effluvium (hair shedding), it is important to understand how the surges of the initial COVID-19 strain and subsequent variant strains have influenced public interest in telogen effluvium and hair loss [1]. Methods To assess the public perception between hair loss and COVID-19, we analyzed search volume data on the Google search engine for the terms “COVID hair loss” and “Telogen Effluvium,” using the Google Trends data set spanning from January 1, 2020, to January 16, 2022. Though it is uncertain whether the heightened search interest in COVID-19 hair loss and its positive correlation with daily new COVID-19 cases stems from current or prior illness, breakthrough infectivity of the omicron variant, or greater media attention, the public is avidly searching for explanations.