Alopecia Areata Occurring After COVID-19 Vaccination: A Single-Center, Cross-Sectional Study

September 2022 in “ Vaccines ”

Francesco Tassone, Simone Cappilli, Flaminia Antonelli, Ruggiero Zingarelli, Andrea Chiricozzi, Ketty Peris

alopecia areata COVID-19 vaccine topical therapies systemic therapies autoimmune disorders

Studysummary This study described cases of alopecia areata occurring after COVID-19 vaccination and highlights management using both topical and systemic therapies.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The cross-sectional study involved 24 patients who developed alopecia areata (AA) after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The onset of AA varied from 1 to 16 weeks post-vaccination, with a mean of 5.2 weeks. The study found no causal relationship between the vaccine and AA, with the rate of AA similar to pre-pandemic levels. The majority of patients (76.2% of 21) showed improvement after 12 weeks of topical and/or systemic therapies. The study concluded that while AA can occur post-vaccination, especially in those with a history of autoimmune disorders, the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks.

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Research cited in this study

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