Can an STD make your hair fall out?

Let’s be honest: the world revolves around sex. Even in antiquity, there were already manuscripts with suggestive illustrations, while today, even the least sexual topics are now linked to sex in some way. Previously, we talked about various types of health conditions that cause alopecia. This time, we’ll talk specifically about the sexually-transmitted diseases that may result in hair loss.

Sexually-transmitted diseases that may result in hair loss

Sex is a big aspect of many people’s lives, and many stress the importance of having multiple sexual partners in your lifetime. And there is nothing wrong with that! Nobody should judge anyone for the number of partners they’ve had. However, it is true that, unfortunately, this openness toward sexuality does not always go hand in hand with appropriate sex education that teaches people to always use protection and get tested regularly.

Here are some sexually-transmitted diseases that end up causing hair loss and could be prevented by using condoms. 

Syphilis 

Many people believe that this disease is under control these days, but actually, various public health organizations report an increase of up to 50% of new cases since 2018. This disease is characterized initially by the appearance of a lesion, which then develops into a larger outbreak and may even cover the entire body, including the hands and scalp, which leads to hair loss.

If syphilis goes untreated, it may turn into neurosyphilis, which is fatal.

HIV

The virus that changed everyone’s sex lives forever can show up in the form of multiple symptoms. It’s more than just about losing CD4 lymphocytes (the cells that kill the virus): HIV also changes the way various cell types behave in the body, sometimes resulting in different skin reactions. 

The virus itself does not cause hair loss, but it does cause alterations in the organism that then cause other conditions. For instance, one of the skin conditions associated with HIV is seborrheic dermatitis, more commonly known as dandruff. When the redness on the scalp is severe, the patient needs to seek out help from a professional. 

Also, because of the lack of lymphocytes, many fungi and bacteria proliferate, leading to more health conditions. One of those conditions that thrive off of fungi is tinea capitis, which can cause permanent hair loss.

What you can do

If you’ve had unprotected sex, it is extremely important that you get tested, so doctors can determine whether you have a sexually-transmitted infection or disease.

Fortunately, people who have HIV can now get the treatment they need and live long, healthy lives, but there are still many people who die due to complications related to syphilis, gonorrhea, and herpes. 

How long has it been since you got tested?