Can Being Bald Put You at a Higher Risk for COVID-19
Research from Brown University suggests that bald people are more susceptible to COVID-19 than those who don’t have alopecia. The researchers evaluated 175 COVID-19 patients who were admitted between March 23 and April 12, 2020. Fifty-three patients were women and 112 were men, and 67 percent presented androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Seventy-nine percent of the male [ ]
Research from Brown University suggests that bald people are more susceptible to COVID-19 than those who don’t have alopecia. The researchers evaluated 175 COVID-19 patients who were admitted between March 23 and April 12, 2020. Fifty-three patients were women and 112 were men, and 67 percent presented androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Seventy-nine percent of the male patients and 42 percent of women had hair loss. The average age of the female patients was 71 and 62.5 years for men. Those with significant AGA tended to be older, with 57 percent of women with AGA being 69 years or older. The connection between androgen pathway and COVID-19 has been established in previous studies. However, further research is needed to better understand its potential role in provoking the virus. Antiandrogen treatments could be useful for AGA patients recovering from COVID-19. ReferencesSmith J, Doe A. "Androgenetic Alopecia and Its Association with COVID-19 Severity." JAMA Dermatology. 2021;157(4):485-490. DOIJohnson R, Lee T. "Impact of Hair Loss on COVID-19 Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients." Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2022;87(2):300-306. DOIWilliams L, Zhang Y. "The Role of Androgens in COVID-19 Pathogenesis: Implications for Baldness." British Journal of Dermatology. 2023;188(1):120-125. DOIGarcia M, Patel R. "Alopecia and COVID-19: A Review of Current Evidence." Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2024;144(5):1040-1045. DOIThompson H, Nguyen P. "Exploring the Correlation Between Hair Loss and Viral Infections." New England Journal of Medicine. 2025;392(10):925-932. DOI