Viral-Induced Rapidly Progressive Alopecia Universalis: A Case Report and Literature Review

April 2023 in “ Curēus ”

Manar A Alotaibi, Afrah Altaymani, Abdullah Al‐Omair, Waleed Alghamdi

alopecia areata autoimmune hair loss COVID-19 non-scarring hair loss

TLDR COVID-19 may trigger or worsen rapid hair loss in alopecia areata.

This case report describes a 20-year-old woman who developed severe and progressive alopecia areata, a non-scarring autoimmune hair loss condition, one month after contracting COVID-19. The study aimed to review the literature on the association between COVID-19 and the onset, aggravation, or recurrence of alopecia areata, focusing on the timeline and clinical presentation of such cases. The case highlights a potential link between COVID-19 infection and rapidly progressive alopecia areata, suggesting that the virus may trigger or exacerbate this autoimmune condition.

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Research cited in this study

8 / 8 results

research Spontaneous Complete Resolution of Alopecia Totalis Post SARS-CoV-2 Infection

1 citations, August 2022 in “JAAD Case Reports”

A woman's complete hair loss condition improved after recovering from COVID-19.

research Not Just Thinning: A Case of Alopecia Universalis After Mild COVID-19

2 citations, May 2022 in “JAAD Case Reports”

A woman lost all her hair after mild COVID-19, but it started to regrow after treatment with a specific medication.

research Association Between Alopecia Areata and COVID-19: A Systematic Review

7 citations, February 2022 in “JAAD International”

COVID-19 may be linked to hair loss or worsening of hair loss in some people.

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 Rapidly Progressive Alopecia Areata Totalis in a COVID-19 Patient, Unresponsive to Tofacitinib

14 citations, February 2021 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

A COVID-19 patient with severe hair loss did not improve with hair loss medication after stopping and restarting it due to the infection.

research Alopecia Areata: A Review of Disease Pathogenesis

191 citations, May 2018 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement”

Alopecia areata is likely an autoimmune disease with unclear triggers, involving various immune cells and molecules, and currently has no cure.

research Evaluation of the Relationship Between Alopecia Areata and Viral Antigen Exposure

19 citations, August 2017 in “American journal of clinical dermatology”

Hepatitis B virus exposure may be linked to increased risk of alopecia areata.

research Alopecia Areata Possibly Induced by Autoimmune Reaction in a Patient with Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus-1-Associated Myelopathy

6 citations, May 2013 in “The Journal of Dermatology”

Autoimmune reactions may cause both alopecia areata and HAM.

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in Update 118 upvotes 3 years ago

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community Take finasteride NOW. Life is short.

in Finasteride/Dutasteride 695 upvotes 3 years ago

User encourages taking finasteride for hair loss, stating rare permanent side effects. Replies discuss experiences with finasteride, side effects, effectiveness, and alternative treatments.

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in Treatment 1 upvotes 1 year ago

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community To my fellow under 20s that are balding

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The conversation is about young men under 20 experiencing hair loss. They discuss their experiences and treatments used, including finasteride (fin) and minoxidil (min).

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