ABSTRACT
The diffusion of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) inducing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has increased the incidence of several dermatological disorders, including hair loss (HL). This article aims to review the literature regarding the incidence of HL and telogen effluvium (TE) in COVID-19 patients and critically appraise the available evidence regarding the role of regenerative strategies like Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and Human Follicle Stem Cells (HFSCs). A literature review regarding the correlation of HL and TE in COVID-19 patients analyzing the biomolecular pathway involved and the role of regenerative strategies was performed using PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, PreMEDLINE, Scopus, and the Cochrane databases. Observational studies revealed an escalated incidence of pattern HL and TE in COVID-19 patients. Psychological stress, systemic inflammation, and oxidative stress are potential culprits. Proinflammatory cytokines and stress hormones negatively affect the normal metabolism of proteoglycans. Reduced anagenic expression of proteoglycans is a potential mediating mechanism that connects HL to COVID-19. Currently, only one study has been published on PRP against HL in COVID-19 patients. Further controlled trials are required to confirm PRP and HFSCs efficacy in COVID-19 patients.
Subject(s)
Alopecia Areata , Alopecia , COVID-19 , Mesenchymal Stem Cells , Platelet-Rich Plasma , Alopecia/therapy , Alopecia/virology , Alopecia Areata/therapy , Alopecia Areata/virology , COVID-19/complications , COVID-19/therapy , Humans , Proteoglycans , SARS-CoV-2Subject(s)
Alopecia/virology , COVID-19/complications , Scalp Dermatoses/virology , Aged , Alopecia/complications , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
The novel viral pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has sparked uncertainties as to its origin, epidemiology and natural course. The study of the cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 has evolved with the hope that they may be useful as markers for the disease, prognostication and pathogenic insights into the disease. With regard to the hair, clinicopathological correlations have remained elusive. More recently, androgenetic alopecia and grey hair have been proposed as cutaneous markers for elevated severity risk. So far, we have only observed postinfectious effluvium in a causal association with COVID-19. The onset and acuity of hair shedding depended on the clinical severity of disease. There was complete recovery of hair.