Hymenoptera Envenomation as a Potential Trigger for Acute Diffuse Alopecia Areata: A Case Report

Fecha de publicación: --
Fuente: PubMed "bee"
Case Rep Dermatol. 2026 Aug 11;18(1):756-761. doi: 10.1159/000553302. eCollection 2026 Jan-Dec.ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune hair loss disorder often triggered by genetic and environmental factors. Acute, massive shedding is unusual and may indicate a potent immune trigger.CASE PRESENTATION: We report a 34-year-old woman with Hashimoto thyroiditis who developed rapid, diffuse AA 10 days after bee stings. Clinical examination showed marked hair loss (SALT score 30→70) affecting scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes. Laboratory workup revealed elevated IgE and venom-specific hypersensitivity. Treatment with corticosteroid pulses followed by oral methylprednisolone and methotrexate led to progressive hair regrowth.CONCLUSION: This case highlights hymenoptera envenomation as a rare trigger of acute AA, emphasizing the importance of environmental history and immune evaluation in sudden-onset autoimmune hair loss.PMID:42890434 | PMC:PMC13671711 | DOI:10.1159/000553302