Global, Regional, and National Burden of Alopecia Areata in Adolescents and Young Adults Aged 10–24 Years from 1990 to 2021: A Trend Analysis

February 2026 in “ Frontiers in Public Health ”

Su Liang, Yicheng Zhang, Xuesong Jia, X. Z. Xia, Xue Wang

TLDR Alopecia areata is increasing globally, with disparities needing better prevention and support.

The study analyzed the burden of alopecia areata (AA) in adolescents and young adults aged 10-24 years from 1990 to 2021, finding that while the absolute burden of AA is increasing globally, age-standardized rates have slightly decreased. Significant disparities exist based on age, gender, region, and socioeconomic status. The study emphasizes the need for comprehensive prevention, treatment, and psychological support measures to address these inequalities and reduce the burden and psychological impact of AA in this age group.

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Research cited in this study

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research Global Burden of Alopecia Areata from 1990 to 2019 and Emerging Treatment Trends Analyzed Through GBD 2019 and Bibliometric Data

5 citations , July 2025 in “Scientific Reports”

research Global Burden of Alopecia Areata and Associated Diseases: A Trend Analysis From 1990 to 2021

February 2025 in “PubMed”

Alopecia areata cases have increased globally, affecting mostly women aged 30-34, with links to other health issues.

research Epidemiological Trends in Alopecia Areata at the Global, Regional, and National Levels

11 citations , July 2022 in “Frontiers in immunology”

Cases of alopecia areata and its impact on life quality rose globally, but when adjusted for age, the rates decreased, especially in poorer regions.

research Patient Perspectives of the Social, Emotional and Functional Impact of Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Literature Review

67 citations , March 2021 in “Dermatology and Therapy”

Alopecia areata greatly harms quality of life, causing emotional and social issues.

research Assessment of a Bidirectional Association Between Major Depressive Disorder and Alopecia Areata

37 citations , January 2019 in “JAMA Dermatology”

People with Major Depressive Disorder have a higher chance of getting Alopecia Areata, and vice versa; antidepressants may lower this risk.

research Alopecia Areata: A Multifactorial Autoimmune Condition

148 citations , December 2018 in “Journal of autoimmunity”

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

research The Role of Micronutrients in Alopecia Areata: A Review

63 citations , May 2017 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology”

People with alopecia areata often have lower levels of vitamin D, zinc, and folate, but more research is needed to understand if supplements can help treat it.

research Alopecia Areata Profiling Shows TH1, TH2, and IL-23 Cytokine Activation Without Parallel TH17/TH22 Skewing

176 citations , August 2015 in “The journal of allergy and clinical immunology/Journal of allergy and clinical immunology/The journal of allergy and clinical immunology”

Alopecia areata involves immune activation in the scalp, suggesting treatments targeting TH1, TH2, and IL-23 pathways.

research Vitamin D Deficiency in Alopecia Areata

105 citations , March 2014 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement”

Alopecia areata patients often have low vitamin D levels, suggesting they might benefit from vitamin D supplements.

research Alopecia Areata: An Autoimmune Disease Causing Hair Loss

421 citations , April 2012 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition causing hair loss with no cure and treatments that often don't work well.

research The Diagnosis and Treatment of Iron Deficiency and Its Potential Relationship to Hair Loss

207 citations , April 2006 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Iron deficiency may be related to hair loss, but there's not enough evidence to recommend iron screening or supplements for all hair loss patients.

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