Total hair loss after COVID-19 vaccination
A 23-year-old woman presented to the dermatology clinic with complaint of local hair loss on her scalp a week after receiving the first dose of Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (AZD1222) in August 2021. She also reported myalgia following the vaccination, which was relieved by acetaminophen. She had no past medical or family history of alopecia areata (AA) and had not received any medications. A positive pull test demonstrated oval-shaped patchy hair loss with defined borders and no scarring or scaling. Treatment with betamethasone cream 0.1% and pimecrolimus cream 1% started immediately, but after 3 weeks, the patient returned with total hair loss on the scalp and eyebrows. A diagnosis of Alopecia Totalis was made for her based on her history and physical characteristics, and treatment with systemic corticosteroid was initiated (oral prednisolone, 300 mg monthly, for 3 months). Many more cases of males and females between the ages of 15 and 80 losing hair ...