Retrospective Evaluation of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Incidence of Alopecia Areata in a Single Dermatological Department

This retrospective study examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on alopecia areata (AA) hospitalizations at a dermatological center, involving 428 patients. Post-pandemic, there was a 207.62% increase in hospitalizations, with a significant rise in pediatric cases and a decline in adult cases. Diagnoses of alopecia areata totalis increased by 55.6%, and more pediatric patients resided in urban areas post-pandemic. The study suggests a potential link between COVID-19 and changes in AA incidence and severity, though causality could not be established. The findings highlight the need for further research to understand the relationship between viral infections and autoimmune responses to improve AA treatment outcomes.