Much has already been said and written about Lyme disease. At least enough so that most people automatically associate it with ticks. We generally know that it is not easy to detect because its early symptoms are characteristic of many other conditions. However, not everyone is aware that treating Lyme disease can cause hair loss.
Lyme Disease – Basic Information, Early Symptoms
Lyme disease (more accurately: Lyme borreliosis) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted to humans exclusively by ticks of the genus Ixodes – it's a so-called tick-borne disease. Therefore, Lyme disease cannot be contracted from another person. This is worth emphasizing because the term "infectious disease" is often understood only in the context of human-to-human transmission (remember: "infectious" does not equal "contagious").
Fun Fact: The name "Lyme disease" comes from the American towns of New Lyme and Old Lyme (Connecticut), where the first cases were described in 1977. At that time, arthritis in several teenagers was linked to tick bites.
How Does Lyme Disease Infection Occur?
Sure, I’ve repeated several times that Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease, but infection involves more than just that. The duration of the parasite's feeding on the host is also crucial. The longer the tick feeds, the higher the risk of transmitting Borrelia and thus contracting Lyme disease. Therefore, it is extremely important to remove the tick as quickly as possible.
And yes, I assume that if you're reading an article about hair loss due to Lyme disease, you or a loved one is already dealing with this illness. However, it doesn't hurt to remind you of the basics – so you know how to react from the very beginning in case of another potential infection, for example, within your family.
Initial Symptoms of Lyme Disease
As mentioned earlier, diagnosing Lyme disease can be problematic because its symptoms are highly varied and characteristic of many other diseases, especially in the early stages. Furthermore, Lyme disease symptoms can begin to appear up to 30 days after the tick bite. Consequently, the affected person does not always associate their symptoms with the bite.
The first and most indicative symptom of Lyme disease is the erythema migrans. It is a specific redness that spreads outward, usually around the site of the tick bite (less commonly in entirely different parts of the body), and visually resembles a donut. In the center, there is a red circle, surrounded by a clear ring, and around that, another red ring.
Unfortunately, this symptom does not appear in all patients. It is estimated that erythema migrans occurs in about 40-60 percent of people infected with Lyme disease. Moreover, it is not always noticed – for example, if the tick bit a less visible place, such as the scalp or groin. Often, it is also overlooked by the patient because erythema migrans does not hurt or itch.
Other, significantly less clear early symptoms of developing Lyme disease include:
- General fatigue
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Elevated body temperature
- Joint and muscle pain
- Chills
In the early stage of the disease (up to about 6 months after infection), Lyme disease can therefore resemble a common cold or flu.
Later Symptoms of Lyme Disease
At a later stage, even several years after infection, the patient may experience:
- Migrating joint pain
- Muscle and joint stiffness
- Neck crepitus
- Facial muscle paralysis, usually one-sided
- Facial muscle tics
- Concentration problems
- Memory problems
- Depression
- Sleep disturbances
- Vision and hearing problems
- Dizziness and balance issues
- Disorientation
- Mood swings
- Pulse fluctuations and heart palpitations
- Night sweats
- Breathing difficulties
- Migraines
- Irregular periods
- Recurrent tonsillitis
- Touch hypersensitivity
Lyme Disease Treatment and Hair Loss
Since Lyme disease is a bacterial infection, early-stage treatment (typically in its initial phase) involves antibiotic therapy. The goal is to eliminate the spirochete infection. Common antibiotics used for Lyme disease include doxycycline, amoxicillin, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, or cefotaxime. According to recommendations from the Polish Society of Epidemiologists and Infectious Disease Physicians, as well as the American Society of Infectious Diseases, antibiotic treatment should last 14-21 days. Here, I need to seemingly diverge from the main topic – towards the gut.
It is no longer a secret that the human nervous system begins in the gut. These are often referred to as our second brain! The walls of the intestines are covered by a dense network of nerve cells – there are about 100 million of them. Consequently, the intestines respond to stress and control the protective barrier of the body against microbes. There is a significant communication axis between the central and intestinal nervous systems (the so-called gut-brain axis), exemplified by the existence of irritable bowel syndrome. You might think: OK, but what does this have to do with anything? Let me explain.
Hair Loss in Lyme Disease – From the Gut to the Head
It is in the intestines, with the involvement of gut bacteria, that biotin synthesis occurs, also known as vitamin B7 (or vitamin H). Biotin plays many significant roles in the proper functioning of the human body, one of the best-known being its positive impact on the condition of hair, skin, and nails.
Unfortunately, taking antibiotics can disrupt the natural bacterial balance in the gut. Antibiotics undoubtedly do an excellent job of fighting pathogenic bacteria, but the problem is that they do not differentiate between "good bacteria," which are essential for the body's proper functioning, and "bad bacteria," which contribute to disease development.
This brings us back to biotin, which is produced by the gut's bacterial flora – the same flora that can be disrupted by antibiotic treatment. As a result, long-term antibiotic therapy (especially with broad-spectrum antibiotics) can reduce the amount of biotin in the body by decreasing its bacterial synthesis. This can lead to skin problems, impaired hair growth, hair loss, and brittle nails – thereby increasing the body's need for vitamin B7.
Hair Loss in Lyme Disease is Not a Vanity Issue
Information about the potential for hair loss rarely appears in the descriptions of antibiotic side effects. It might not be considered a significant problem in modern medicine, but without a doubt, hair loss in Lyme disease can negatively impact the mental state of the patient. A state that is already heavily strained by the diagnosis and the course of the disease itself.
It should be emphasized: the problem of hair loss in Lyme disease is not a trivial matter related to vanity. Regardless of the individual's gender, the condition of one’s hair greatly influences self-confidence, self-acceptance, and overall mental well-being. The daily loss of an above-average amount of hair due to Lyme disease, and noticing the first thinning spots in the hair, can be the final straw for a patient already struggling.
It's also worth noting that one of the significant symptoms of Lyme disease is depression. And with it, the last thing a patient needs is an additional reason to lose self-confidence.
Moreover, hair loss is often one of the early symptoms of Lyme disease, affecting patients even before they start treatment.
Supplementation and Hair Loss in Lyme Disease and Antibiotic Therapy
During prolonged antibiotic therapy, one of the few effective methods of treating Lyme disease, appropriate supplementation is essential. It is crucial to select the right doses of biotin, thiamine, and other ingredients that positively affect the broad concept of the nervous system.
It goes without saying that a sick person's body has a much higher demand for various vitamins and minerals. Do not forget this and do everything you can for yourself or your loved one to take care of not only physical health but also appearance and mental well-being.
Revimyelin® is a supplement that supports the regeneration of the nervous system. Can it also affect hair loss in Lyme disease, whether caused by the disease itself or by antibiotic therapy? Absolutely!
Revimyelin® contains 50 mg of biotin per capsule, which corresponds to 100,000% of the daily requirement. Revimyelin® also includes other well-composed ingredients that significantly contribute to supporting the regeneration of the nervous system.
Author: Andy - CEO of Biomelius LTD, who was diagnosed with MS in 2017
