TLDR Alopecia areata patients have varied cancer risks, with some cancers being lower and others higher.
The study investigated the cancer risk in patients with alopecia areata (AA) using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, covering 162,499 patients from 1997 to 2013. It found that overall cancer risks in AA patients were slightly decreased, particularly in males (SIR: 0.89). Specific cancers such as nonmelanoma skin cancer, upper GI cancer, liver cancer, and uterine/cervix cancer had significantly lower risks in AA patients. However, AA patients had higher risks for lymphoma, breast cancer, kidney, and urinary bladder cancer, with SIRs of 1.55, 2.93, and 2.95, respectively. Notably, female AA patients under 50 had an even higher risk of breast cancer (SIR: 3.37). The study concluded that cancer risk in AA patients is organ-specific and not linked to underlying autoimmune disorders.
701 citations,
August 2014 in “Nature medicine” Alopecia areata can be reversed by JAK inhibitors, promoting hair regrowth.
10 citations,
April 2014 in “Molecular and Clinical Oncology” Alopecia areata can be an early sign of Hodgkin’s lymphoma and may improve with lymphoma treatment.
15 citations,
January 2014 in “Dermatology” Some patients with a type of skin lymphoma can experience a rare, non-scarring hair loss that looks like another hair loss condition but has distinct features.
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January 2013 in “Clinical and developmental immunology/Clinical & developmental immunology” The document concludes that systemic autoimmune diseases are complex, incurable, and require ongoing treatment and research.
14 citations,
January 2012 in “International Journal of Trichology” Hodgkin's lymphoma can show up as hair loss.
141 citations,
March 2011 in “Journal of Dermatology” Eczema and fungal infections are the most common skin problems in Japan, with different age groups and genders affected by various conditions.
391 citations,
February 2010 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Half of people with Alopecia Areata may see hair regrowth within a year without treatment, but recovery is unpredictable.
35 citations,
August 2009 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Melanocytes might be targeted by the immune system in people with alopecia areata, but more research is needed.
April 2019 in “International journal of research in dermatology” A child with rough nails also had hair loss and allergies.
