The correlation between corona virus disease 2019 and alopecia areata: a literature review

July 2024 in “ Frontiers in Immunology ”

Ying Xie, Shuying Lv, Sha Luo, Yuxuan Chen, Meijiao Du, Yonglong Xu, Dingquan Yang

alopecia areata COVID-19 autoimmune diseases vaccination treatment methods

TLDR COVID-19 can increase the risk of hair loss, especially in people over 40.

This literature review explores the correlation between COVID-19 and alopecia areata (AA), highlighting that the risk of autoimmune diseases, including AA, significantly increases after COVID-19, particularly in individuals over 40. The severity of COVID-19 is positively correlated with this increased risk. The review emphasizes the importance of further research to identify and protect susceptible populations early. It also discusses the epidemiological background, potential mechanisms by which COVID-19 or its vaccination might induce AA, and possible treatment methods.

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Research cited in this study

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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 Italian Survey for the Evaluation of the Effects of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic on Alopecia Areata Recurrence

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research Androgenetic Alopecia Present in the Majority of Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19: The 'Gabrin Sign'

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Most COVID-19 patients in hospitals have androgenetic alopecia, more in men, suggesting a link between androgen sensitivity and severe COVID-19 symptoms.

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Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease causing patchy hair loss, often with other autoimmune disorders, but its exact causes are unknown.

research Prognostic Factors in Methylprednisolone Pulse Therapy for Alopecia Areata

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