Publication date: Aug 01, 2025

An increased incidence of hair loss disorders has been noted among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and individuals vaccinated against COVID-19. However, research involving large populations on this topic is lacking. To investigate the risks associated with developing hair loss disorders in patients with COVID-19 and individuals vaccinated against COVID-19. This nationwide, population-based, cross-sectional study included patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and healthy individuals without a history of COVID-19 infection registered in the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021. COVID-19 infection and vaccine databases were integrated using this NHIS database. The odds ratios of hair loss disorders were compared using multivariate logistic regression models. COVID-19 infection was associated with an increased risk of total alopecia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1. 076; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1. 002-1. 156), although this association was not significant after propensity score matching. No significant associations were found between COVID-19 infection and alopecia areata or telogen effluvium. However, COVID-19 vaccination was positively correlated with total alopecia (aOR, 1. 266; 95% CI, 1. 191-1. 346), alopecia areata (aOR, 1. 243; 95% CI, 1. 154-1. 339), and telogen effluvium (aOR, 1. 495; 95% CI, 1. 133-1. 974). COVID-19 vaccination was positively correlated with hair loss disorders but not COVID-19 infection. However, given the advantages of vaccines in reducing COVID-19 mortality and morbidity, alopecia may be relatively reversible and less severe. Physicians need to understand the benefits and possible side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Semantics

Original Article