The Role of Climate in Pediatric Alopecia Areata Flares

According to a study published in Archives of Dermatological Research, climate characteristics may correlate with alopecia areata (AA) flare frequency.

Researchers aimed to investigate the potential connections between seasonality, climate factors, and the frequency of AA flares in pediatric patients. A retrospective chart review was conducted on 123 pediatric patients with AA at Brown Dermatology in Providence, RI, who experienced hair loss from January 2017 to December 2019.

The study revealed distinct seasonal variations in the occurrence of AA flares, with the highest proportion of hair loss episodes happening during the winter (28.1%), followed by autumn (26.3%), spring (23.8%), and summer (21.7%). Notably, these data suggest a possible link between climate conditions and AA flare frequency. Correlation analyses further supported this hypothesis. There were significant correlations between the frequency of AA hair loss episodes and 2 key climate variables: air pressure (R = 0.61) and hours of sunlight (R = -0.60). These correlations were particularly pronounced in patients with no history of atopic disease, indicating a potential interaction between climate factors and the onset of AA in this subgroup. However, it is important to acknowledge the study's limitations, notably the relatively small sample size.

“This regional analysis supports the role of climate in AA hair loss episodes through assessment of seasonal occurrences and identification of correlations between climate characteristics and AA flare frequency,” the authors concluded.

Reference
Zhang H, George-Washburn EA, Lin EM, et al. Associations between season, climate, and pediatric alopecia areata flares in Providence, Rhode Island. Arch Dermatol Res. Published online September 8, 2023. doi:10.1007/s00403-023-02721-3