A Case Series and Literature Review of Telogen Effluvium and Alopecia Universalis After the Administration of a Heterologous COVID-19 Vaccine Scheme

February 2023 in “ Vaccines ”

Jenny Hernández Arroyo, Juan S. Izquierdo-Condoy, Esteban Ortiz‐Prado

telogen effluvium alopecia universalis COVID-19 vaccine Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine hair loss Pfizer vaccine

TLDR Some people experienced hair loss after COVID-19 vaccination, but it's very rare and vaccines' benefits are greater than this risk.

The document discusses a case series of five individuals in Ecuador who developed hair loss conditions, specifically telogen effluvium and alopecia universalis, within 3 to 17 days after receiving a heterologous COVID-19 vaccination scheme. The study suggests a potential link between COVID-19 vaccines and hair loss, but the exact mechanism is unclear. The document also reviews 19 reported cases of alopecia associated with COVID-19 vaccines as of November 1, 2022, with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine being the most reported. The authors emphasize that these events are extremely rare and the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the reported risk of hair loss. They recommend further studies with larger sample sizes to establish a causal relationship. Treatments for the hair loss showed varying degrees of improvement, with two patients showing 80% and 90% improvement respectively, while others showed less improvement.

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Research cited in this study

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research Comorbidities in Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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research Race and Alopecia Areata Amongst US Women

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Black and Hispanic women are more likely to have alopecia areata than white women.

research Alopecia Areata: Overview and Insights from January 2018

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Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition causing hair loss, influenced by genetics, stress, and diet, and may be prevented by a high soy oil diet.

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Hepatitis C treatment may trigger complete hair loss, especially in those with a history of patchy hair loss, but hair usually grows back within a year.

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Alopecia areata shows a unique type 1 interferon signature, suggesting potential treatment by targeting this pathway.

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87 citations, October 1997 in “JAMA”

Some vaccines might rarely cause hair loss, more research is needed.

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