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alopecia

Alopecia is the term to describe hair loss. It can be associated scalp disease or scarring, may be localized or diffuse and can affect the scalp or other parts of the body.​ There are many types of alopecia including

  • Alopecia areata:  autoimmune condition affecting hair follicles causing hair loss typically presenting with discrete bald patches on the scalp

  • Alopecia totalis: a person has lost all the hair on their scalp

  • Alopecia universalis: a person has lost all the hair on their scalp and everywhere else on their body (rare)

What Is The Psychological Impact of Alopecia?

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  • Emotional or physical stress is likely in part responsible for the manifestation of this disorder

  • High levels of anxiety and depression

  • Negative effects on self-esteem, body image, and quality of life

  • More pronounced distress in women due to societal attractiveness pressures

References

Toussi, A., Barton, V. R., Le, S. T., Agbai, O. N., & Kiuru, M. (2021). Psychosocial and psychiatric comorbidities and health-related quality of life in alopecia areata: a systematic review. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 85(1), 162-175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2020.06.047

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Jafferany, M., & Patel, A. (2020). Trichopsychodermatology: the psychiatric and psychosocial aspects of hair disorders. Dermatologic therapy, 33(1), e13168. https://doi.org/10.1111/dth.13168

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Torales, J., Castaldelli‐Maia, J. M., Ventriglio, A., Almirón‐Santacruz, J., Barrios, I., O’Higgins, M., ... & Jafferany, M. (2022). Alopecia areata: A psychodermatological perspective. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 21(6), 2318-2323. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.14416

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Heapy, C., Norman, P., Cockayne, S., & Thompson, A. R. (2023). The effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for social anxiety symptoms in people living with alopecia areata: a single-group case-series design. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 51(5), 381–395. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1352465823000292

©2024 by Skin's Voice: A Guide To Psychodermatology for Patients & Clinicians.

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