Does having alopecia areata increase or decrease my risk of getting skin cancer?
If you have alopecia areata (AA), you might wonder whether your immune system's activity affects your skin cancer risk. Research suggests that AA is associated with a reduced risk of melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer, and possibly other skin cancers as well. This does not mean you can skip sun protection, but the overall evidence points to a lower, not higher, risk.
What the research says
A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis pooled data from six studies and found that people with AA had a significantly lower chance of developing melanoma (odds ratio 0.58, meaning about 42% lower risk) 1. The same analysis also showed a trend toward lower risk for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, though those results were not statistically significant 1. The protective effect is thought to stem from the heightened immune activity in AA, which may help detect and destroy early cancer cells 1. Other studies have noted that people with AA also have a slightly lower risk of COVID-19 infection, possibly due to similar immune mechanisms 8. However, AA does not protect against all infections; a 2023 study found a slightly higher risk of common infections like respiratory and skin infections 10. Overall, the evidence consistently shows that AA does not increase skin cancer risk and may even lower it.
What to ask your doctor
- Given my alopecia areata, do I need any special skin cancer screening or can I follow general guidelines?
- Should I be concerned about the slightly higher risk of common infections reported in some studies?
- Are there any medications for alopecia areata that might affect my skin cancer risk?
- What sun protection measures do you recommend for me?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about Dermatology and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.