COVID-19 and Autoimmunity in Dermatology: A Moroccan Case Series and Literature Review

April 2024 in “ Curēus ”

F. Benhayoun, F. Hali, F.Z. El Fatoiki, Soumiya Chiheb

telogen effluvium alopecia lupus psoriasis pemphigus autoimmune diseases SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 hair loss

TLDR COVID-19 can lead to different skin symptoms and might trigger autoimmune diseases in genetically susceptible people.

The study from the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Ibn Rochd in Morocco involved 18 patients with COVID-19-related skin symptoms. The findings revealed that 94.44% of the patients had general symptoms, with varying degrees of skin involvement. The most frequent skin symptoms were maculopapular rash (44.44%), purpura (27.77%), and urticaria. Half of the patients had mucosal involvement, 5.55% had viral reactivation, and 22.22% experienced Telogen effluvium, a temporary hair loss. COVID-19 triggered autoimmune diseases in some patients, including lupus (11.11%), psoriasis (11.11%), alopecia (5.55%), and pemphigus. Severe toxidermia was intensified by SARS-CoV-2 infection in 22.22% of the cases. The study concluded that COVID-19 can cause various skin symptoms and may trigger autoimmune dysregulation in individuals with genetic predisposition.

View this study on assets.cureus.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

2 / 2 results

research New Onset of Alopecia Areata in a Patient with SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Possible Pathogenetic Correlations

32 citations, March 2021 in “Journal of cosmetic dermatology (Print)”

COVID-19 infection may trigger alopecia areata in some patients.

research SARS-CoV-2-Induced Telogen Effluvium: A Multicentric Study

51 citations, November 2020 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

COVID-19 infection may cause significant hair loss, but full hair recovery is likely without special treatment.

Related Community Posts Join

6 / 419 results

community Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

in Research 692 upvotes 4 months ago

Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

community Finasteride not working isnt it MPB?

in Finasteride/Dutasteride 5 upvotes 7 months ago

A user is concerned that finasteride isn't working for their hair loss, questioning if it's due to male pattern baldness or low iron levels. They are advised to take finasteride daily and get blood work done.

community I’m 14 years old and I’m losing more hair than my dad. I’ve gone to the doctor 2 times because of this and I’ve received no help. I’m starting to feel like It’s worthless and my hairs gonna look like this forever. I don’t know how anyone could help me but it’s always worth a shot.

in Treatment 4 years ago

A 14 year old who is experiencing hair loss and has not received any help from the doctor, with advice being given to try different doctors, get tested for underlying conditions and intolerances, buzz it short as an option and treatments that could slow down or reverse the hair loss such as minoxidil, finasteride, RU58841 and addressing the cause of the hair loss.

community Starting Spironolactone, any ladies in here with experience or success?

in Female 56 upvotes 1 year ago

A female user starting Spironolactone treatment for thinning hair, and others sharing their experiences with Minoxidil and oral/sublingual Minoxidil as treatments.

community I 24F have gone from a full head of hair to ~30% of hair in 2 weeks

in Female 49 upvotes 2 years ago

A 24 year old female experiencing rapid, unexplained hair loss over the course of two weeks and looking for advice. Treatments suggested include Rogaine, finasteride, minoxidil, RU58841, and seeing a dermatologist.

community Which dermastamp/roller do you suggest?

in Microneedling 3 upvotes 5 months ago

A 30-year-old female with telogen effluvium and androgenetic alopecia is using spironolactone, oral minoxidil, vitamin D, iron sulfate, and a hairmax laser band. She seeks recommendations for a dermastamp or derma roller, advised to use no higher than 0.5 mm.

Similar Research

6 / 1000+ results

research Profile of Dermatological Consultations in Brazil (2018)

32 citations, November 2018 in “Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia”

In Brazil in 2018, the most common skin issues were acne, photoaging, and nonmelanoma skin cancer, with treatments often including topical medications and sunscreen.

research Overview of Common, Rare, and Atypical Manifestations of Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus and Histopathological Correlates

157 citations, August 2010 in “Lupus”

The document concludes that recognizing and treating cutaneous lupus erythematosus early is crucial for managing the skin and potential systemic symptoms.

research Impact of Coronavirus in a Dermatology Outpatient Clinic: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

January 2021 in “Erciyes medical journal”

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the types of skin conditions seen at a clinic, with fewer patients and varying numbers of specific conditions.

research Skin

2 citations, January 2011 in “Elsevier eBooks”

Skin problems are common in Lupus patients and can indicate the disease's severity, requiring specific treatments and lifestyle changes.

research Alopecia as a Systemic Disease

7 citations, July 2019 in “Clinics in Dermatology”

Hair loss can indicate or worsen with systemic diseases, and treating the underlying condition is important.

research Diseases of the Hair and Nails

4 citations, November 2009 in “Medical Clinics of North America”

Stress, nutritional issues, and chronic diseases can cause hair loss, and nail changes may signal internal diseases; treatment focuses on the underlying cause.