Reported Experiences of Persons with Alopecia Areata

The study, which is 19 years old, investigated the psychological impact of alopecia areata, a chronic hair loss condition, on individuals. It comprised two parts: an analysis of 162 spontaneous written accounts and an interactive email interview with 34 participants. The findings highlighted the negative personal, social, and medical effects of alopecia, with only a few respondents discussing successful coping strategies, such as behavioral changes and acceptance of altered appearance and identity. The study suggested that treatment for alopecia should include psychological support and called for further research in this area. The authors, Dr. Nigel Hunt and Dr. Sue McHale, have backgrounds in applied psychology and psychobiology, respectively, with interests in how individuals respond to stressful situations and the psychoneuroimmunological responses to environmental events.