Androgenetic alopecia and coronavirus infection

Androgenetic alopecia (AA) is a non-scarring hair loss in men and women caused by the effect of androgens on hair follicles which occurs in genetically predisposed individuals. The disease has chronic and progressive course and affects millions of people worldwide. AA treatments are limited, and understanding of the underlying pathophysiology is still is developing. Along with genetic predisposition and complex biochemical processes occurring in hair follicle cells, the role of new novel coronavirus infection COVID-19 in AA is widely discussed. Today, information on the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, prevention and treatment of coronavirus infection COVID-19 is constantly being updated. COVID-19-associated cutaneous manifestations have been described, including angiitis, acrodermatitis (acroangiitis), papular-vesicular eruptions, papular-squamous eruptions, pityriasis rosea, measles-like rash, toxicoderma, exacerbation of chronic dermatoses, artifactual skin lesions and, finally, hair loss. A number of studies demonstrate a link between androgens involved in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and the possible occurrence of AA.