Pink eye and hair loss mean you may have had Covid-19 and didn’t know

At least there's a new excuse for having pink eye...

Had pink eye recently? Noticed hair loss? It could be signs you've had Covid and didn't know. There are obvious symptoms of Covid, such as loss of taste and smell and a consistent cough, but as the virus is still being researched, there's always the possibility of new symptoms arising. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, hair loss could be one new symptom. This is because when we become ill with a fever, our bodies can begin "shredding" our hair as part of a process called telogen effluvium. [caption id="attachment_309083" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Noticed hair loss? It could be a Covid symptom, but it doesn't last forever (Photo: iStock)[/caption] "Fever is a common symptom of Covid-19. A few months after having a high fever or recovering from an illness, many people see noticeable hair loss," say the Association. "While many people think of this as hair loss, it’s actually hair shedding. The medical name for this type of hair shedding is telogen effluvium. It happens when more hairs than normal enter the shedding (telogen) phase of the hair growth lifecycle at the same time. A fever or illness can force more hairs into the shedding phase." Shredding typically occurs two to three months after Covid. It can last for up to nine months, but the good news is that it typically stops. Developing pink eye, medically known as conjunctivitis, can also happen, according to Healthline. [caption id="attachment_309084" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Pink eye could be a sign of Covid (Photo: iStock)[/caption] They explain: "COVID-19 is thought to enter your cells through receptors for the enzyme called angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The virus enters these receptors by tricking your body into thinking it’s the ACE2 enzyme. "ACE2 receptors are found in various parts of your eyes, such as your retina and the epithelial cells that line your eye white and eyelid." This can lead to dry eyes, pink eyes and eye swelling. Another recently discovered symptom particularly associated with Omicron is night sweats. Doctor Dr Amir Khan confirmed on Lorraine Kelly's ITV show that "a scratchy throat, mild muscle aches, extreme tiredness, a dry cough and night sweats" are all symptoms. He warned to watch out for "drenching night sweats where you might have to get up and change your clothes," alongside the classic symptoms. Related links: Doctor issues warning over Omicron symptom occurring when you're sleeping Long Covid has more than 200 symptoms, according to study More than one million people in UK had Covid last month