TLDR Some vaccines, like the hepatitis B vaccine, might be linked to the hair loss condition Alopecia Areata, but more research is needed.
The document from 2015 discussed Alopecia Areata (AA), an autoimmune condition causing hair loss, affecting over 5 million people in the U.S. It highlighted that AA could arise at any age and affects both sexes equally. The condition is linked to other autoimmune diseases and atopic features, with autoreactive lymphocytes attacking anagen hair follicles. Genetic predisposition and environmental factors, such as infections and vaccinations, are implicated in its pathogenesis. Specifically, the hepatitis B vaccine was mentioned as potentially inducing AA, with a study reporting 60 cases of alopecia post-vaccination. However, the evidence was not definitive, and the document called for more research to clarify the relationship between vaccines and AA, underlining the disease's adverse effect on patients' quality of life.
8 citations,
January 2012 in “Dermatology” The HPV vaccine may be linked to temporary hair loss in children, but the benefits outweigh the risks.
35 citations,
June 2011 in “British Journal of Dermatology” 244 citations,
January 2010 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” The document says current treatments for alopecia areata do not cure or prevent it, and it's hard to judge their effectiveness due to spontaneous remission and lack of studies.
391 citations,
January 2010 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Half of people with Alopecia Areata may see hair regrowth within a year without treatment, but recovery is unpredictable.
23 citations,
January 2009 in “Veterinary Dermatology” The hepatitis B vaccine did not cause hair loss in the tested mice.
59 citations,
September 2008 in “Experimental dermatology” Both mouse and rat models are effective for testing alopecia areata treatments.
164 citations,
April 2008 in “Cochrane library” Current treatments for alopecia show no significant long-term benefits.
46 citations,
July 2007 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Alopecia areata causes significant emotional distress, including high rates of depression and anxiety.
275 citations,
November 2002 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Alopecia areata mainly affects young people and has significant psychological impacts, especially in males.
87 citations,
October 1997 in “JAMA” Some vaccines might rarely cause hair loss, more research is needed.
April 2019 in “International journal of research in dermatology” A child with rough nails also had hair loss and allergies.
37 citations,
October 2017 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” Oral tofacitinib shows promise in treating atopic dermatitis and alopecia areata, but only slight improvement in vitiligo.
18 citations,
January 2010 in “Dermatology Research and Practice” DPCP treatment for alopecia areata can sometimes cause vitiligo.
