Skin Cancer Risk in Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the relationship between alopecia areata (AA) and skin cancer risk. Analyzing data from eight studies, the research found that AA is associated with a statistically significant reduction in melanoma incidence (OR 0.58; 95% CI, 0.36-0.94; p = 0.028). While overall skin cancer risk was reduced, it was not statistically significant. The study also noted directionally reduced associations for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, though these were not statistically significant. Despite high between-study heterogeneity, sensitivity analyses confirmed the protective trend. These findings suggest that AA does not increase skin cancer risk and may inversely relate to melanoma incidence, providing valuable context for patient counseling and the interpretation of long-term safety data for systemic therapies like JAK inhibitors.