Effect of Camouflaging Agents on Psychological Well-Being: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Hair Loss Patients

    May 2017 in “ Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology ”
    Christina Ring, Matthew Keller
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    TLDR Camouflaging agents like hair fibers and wigs significantly improve appearance and self-esteem for most hair loss patients.
    In a 2017 cross-sectional survey of 359 individuals with hair loss, 283 (79%) used camouflaging agents, with hair-building fibers (59%) and wigs (51%) being most popular. These products improved appearance for 216 (82%) and self-esteem for 173 (71%) of users. Topical concealers were favored for minimal-to-moderate hair loss, while hairpieces were preferred for more advanced hair loss. Drawbacks included messiness, application time, cost, itchiness, and concerns about appearance in various conditions. Despite these issues, the positive impact on appearance and self-confidence was significant for many. Only 3% of participants were informed about these products by physicians, with no dermatologists in the study recommending them. The authors recommend that physicians should discuss camouflaging agents with patients to potentially enhance psychological well-being, despite the study's limitations of survey and recall bias.
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