Actress Alyssa Milano is drawing attention to another possible side effect of COVID-19 — hair loss.
In a shocking new video, Alyssa takes a clean detangler brush and runs it through her hair as clumps begin to fall out.
Thought I’d show you what #Covid19 does to your hair. Please take this seriously. #WearADamnMask #LongHauler pic.twitter.com/H0wCmzYswV
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) August 9, 2020
“I just wanted to show you how much hair is coming out of my head because of COVID.” Afterward, she picked up the hair and said, “One brushing, this is my hair loss from COVID-19, wear a damn mask.”
A recent survey of 1,500 COVID-19 patients who experienced long-term symptoms showed hair loss as a possible side effect. The survey was conducted by Dr. Natalie Lambert from Indiana University School of Medicine along with the nonprofit Survivor Corps.
Over the weekend, Milano referred to herself as a “long hauler,” after becoming “acutely sick” with the coronavirus in April. In an earlier Twitter comment, she told a fan she may have caught the virus while on a plane, explaining that her travel companion also got it.
The 47-year-old star had to be admitted to a hospital on Saturday, months after her initial infection, tweeting from her bed, “I still have many symptoms. I am what they call a ‘long hauler.’ Last night, I had real heaviness in my chest. I went to the ER just to make sure it wasn’t a blood clot. Thankfully, it wasn’t. This virus sucks. Please take it seriously.”
I was acutely sick w/ Covid19 in April. I still have many symptoms. I am what they call a “long hauler”. Last night, I had real heaviness in my chest. I went to the ER just to make sure it wasn’t a blood clot. Thankfully, it wasn’t.
This virus sucks. Please take it seriously. pic.twitter.com/JcMkVSNn4y
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) August 9, 2020
Last week, she opened up about testing positive for COVID-19 antibodies after multiple coronavirus tests had come back negative.
The star shared a photo of herself with what appeared to be an oxygen mask, along with the message, “This was me on April 2nd after being sick for 2 weeks. I had never been this kind of sick. Everything hurt. Loss of smell. It felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t keep food in me. I lost 9 pounds in 2 weeks. I was confused. Low grade fever. And the headaches were horrible. I basically had every Covid symptom. At the very end of march I took two covid19 tests and both were negative. I also took a covid antibody test (the finger prick test) after I was feeling a bit better. NEGATIVE.”
She continued, “After living the last 4 months with lingering symptoms like, vertigo, stomach abnormalities, irregular periods, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, zero short term memory, and general malaise, I went and got an antibody test from a blood draw (not the finger prick) from a lab. I am POSITIVE for covid antibodies. I had Covid19.”
Alyssa insisted “our testing system is flawed,” adding “this illness is not a hoax. I thought I was dying.”
The “Charmed” alum said, “I will be donating my plasma with hopes that I might save a life. Please take care of yourselves. Please wash your hands and wear a mask and social distance. I don’t want anyone to feel the way I felt.”