Alopecia in Patients with COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

February 2022 in “ JAAD International ”

Betty Nguyen, Antonella Tosti

androgenetic alopecia telogen effluvium alopecia areata antiandrogen therapy AGA TE AA

Studysummary This review analyzed data on alopecia types associated with COVID-19, suggesting androgenetic alopecia may be a risk factor for severe COVID-19, while telogen effluvium often follows infection and alopecia areata tends to relapse in those with preexisting disease.

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

The systematic review and meta-analysis included 1826 COVID-19 patients with alopecia, with the most common types being androgenetic alopecia (AGA) at 30.7%, telogen effluvium (TE) at 19.8%, and alopecia areata (AA) at 7.8%. The study found that AGA may be a risk factor for severe COVID-19, with a prevalence of 75.5% in men and 49.1% in women with severe COVID-19, exceeding the expected prevalence in those without COVID-19. TE often presents as a consequence of COVID-19, with symptoms appearing on average 56.5 days after COVID-19. AA usually occurs as a relapse in patients with preexisting alopecia. The study suggests that antiandrogen therapy may be beneficial for patients with AGA and COVID-19. However, the study has limitations including reporting and sampling bias, and reliance on case reports and series with small sample sizes.

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