Alopecia Areata Occurring after COVID-19 Vaccination: A Single-Center, Cross-Sectional Study

Global burden of vaccine-associated alopecia, 1979-2023: a comprehensive analysis of the international pharmacovigilance database

While global concern over vaccine-associated alopecia has been gradually increasing, it has also been reported that alopecia, classified as an autoimmune disease, can manifest as an immune-related side-effect caused by vaccinations. However, comprehensive research on vaccine-associated alopecia has been limited. Therefore, we carried out a comprehensive analysis using information from VigiBase (1979–2023) from more than 156 countries, managed by the WHO and the Uppsala Monitoring Centre. Thus, this global pharmacovigilance study of vaccine-associated alopecia, encompassing all age and sex groups, provides international and comprehensive evidence that substantiates the overall real-world impact of vaccines.

Dermoscopy-assisted prevalence of hair loss after COVID-19 vaccination among an Egyptian population: a cross-sectional study

ABSTACT

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) currently named SARS-CoV-2 is a contagious disease caused by a coronavirus; incompatible data are present on the possible relationship among COVID-19 vaccines and hair loss.

AIMS

The objective of the current study was to assess dermoscopically the prevalence of hair loss among an Egyptian population following COVID-19 vaccination.

METHODS

A total of 2000 participants were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Adult males and females who received one of recognized COVID-19 vaccine were included, irrespective of the status of previous COVID-19 infection. Those who were aged less than 18 years or above 60 years were excluded. Furthermore, subjects self-reporting hair loss were assessed by dermoscopy.

RESULTS

Among the studied cases, n = 478 (23.9%) complained of hair loss following vaccination. The majority of cases noticed their hair loss during the first 2 months post-vaccination (n = 215 after the first month and n = 158 after the 2nd month respectively).

CONCLUSION

We reported prevalence of post-vaccination hair fall that was confirmed by trichoscopy and which affected approximately one quarter of participants who received COVID-19 vaccines. Other factors, such as stress and infection, cannot be excluded and remain to be further investigated by larger multicenter studies.

The clinical and immunological features of alopecia areata following SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 vaccines

INTRODUCTION

Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease induced by viral infection or vaccination. With the increased incidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the incidence of AA has also increased. Recently the incidence was found to be 7.8% from a previously reported rate of 2.1%. The physical and psychological damage caused by AA could seriously affect patients' lives, while AA is a challenging dermatological disease owing to its complex pathogenesis.

AREAS COVERED

This paper presents a comprehensive review of the prevalence, pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets for AA after infection with SARS-CoV-2 or SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.

EXPERT OPINION

The treatment of AA remains challenging because of the complexity of its pathogenesis. For patients with AA after SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination, the use of sex hormones and alternative regenerative therapies may be actively considered in addition to conventional treatments. For preexisting disease, therapeutic agents should be adjusted to the patient's specific condition.

The Incidence of Alopecia Areata in a COVID-19-Vaccinated Population: A Single-Center Review

Background Cases of alopecia areata (AA) attributed to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination have been reported in recent literature. However, these reports are reflective of specific geographic areas, and whether this phenomenon is observed in other regions remains to be investigated. This study focused on the association between AA and COVID-19 vaccination among patients from a large single-center safety net hospital in California. Methodology In this study, using electronic health records of patients and publicly available vaccination data, the demographics of patients including age group, sex, and race along with the vaccination status were carefully reviewed. Results A total of 73 cases of AA in the period from the release of the COVID-19 vaccination on December 17, 2020, to February 10, 2023, were identified. The odds ratios (ORs) for developing AA among the vaccinated and unvaccinated for each demographic level were calculated. Among all vaccinated individuals, the OR for developing AA was 0.58 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.35-0.94, p-value = 0.02). Conclusions This investigation noted no apparent increase in the incidence of AA among the vaccinated population compared to the unvaccinated population.

Alopecia universalis after injection of messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccine. A case report

Messenger RNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 infection, or COVID-19 dramatically changed the landscape of the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. However, they might be associated with various side effects, such as myocarditis. Herein we report a case of alopecia universalis occurring after injection of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in a Japanese patient. Healthcare workers should be aware of this rather rare complication after vaccinations.