Tick Bite Alopecia: A Report of Five Cases and Review of the Literature
January 2024
in “
Skin Appendage Disorders
”
TLDR Tick bites may cause hair loss due to inflammation from tick saliva.
The document reports on five cases of tick bite alopecia and reviews existing literature on the topic. The exact mechanisms by which ticks cause alopecia remain unclear, but it is suggested that the anticoagulants present in tick saliva, such as heparins, heparinoids, and coumarins, may trigger an inflammatory reaction on the scalp. This inflammation could lead to alopecia as the final clinical outcome. Further research is needed to fully understand the process and develop effective treatments.
