Patients' Experiences of Primary Healthcare and Dermatology Provision for Alopecia

June 2023

Fabio Zucchelli, Marije van Dalen, Nick Sharratt, Amy J. Johnson, J. Chambers

alopecia primary healthcare dermatology GP appointments psychological impact healthcare professionals training for GPs primary and secondary healthcare

TLDR Alopecia patients in the UK want more empathy and better care from healthcare providers, including more GP training on alopecia and improved care pathways.

The study aimed to understand the experiences of alopecia patients with primary healthcare and dermatology services in the UK. An online survey was distributed to UK-based individuals with alopecia, and the responses were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The findings revealed that participants had neutral to partial dissatisfaction with their initial GP appointments, although satisfaction improved with subsequent visits. Participants expressed a desire for more support and understanding about the psychological impact of alopecia. The study concluded that there is a need for more empathy and care from healthcare professionals, additional training for GPs on alopecia, and a more streamlined pathway between primary and secondary healthcare for patients.

View this study on psyarxiv.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Related Community Posts Join

6 / 1000+ results

community Hair Loss Drugs Ranked in Order of Efficacy

in Research/Science 67 upvotes 11 months ago

Dutasteride is likely the most effective treatment for male pattern baldness, followed by finasteride and minoxidil in various forms and dosages. Users discuss personal experiences, dosages, and potential side effects, with some considering combining treatments for better results.

community How many of you are on fin and how many are on dut

in Finasteride/Dutasteride 38 upvotes 4 weeks ago

Many people use finasteride and dutasteride for hair loss, with some switching due to cost or effectiveness. Minoxidil is also commonly used, and side effects like weaker erections or ball pain are reported by some.

community Reminder that Kintors Pyrilutamide results will be out this month

in Treatment 178 upvotes 3 years ago

Kintor's Pyrilutamide results for hair loss treatment will be released soon. The treatment may replace current treatments like finasteride and minoxidil without systemic side effects.

community Most Recent Interesting Hairloss Studies: 10% Minox vs 5% Minox / Radio Rrequency Treatment for AA / Topical Ketoconazole / PRP+Minox vs Minox vs PRP / Alopecia as a systemic disease

in Treatment 92 upvotes 4 years ago

Treatments for hair loss, such as topical minoxidil, platelet-rich plasma therapy with or without minoxidil, ketoconazole, non-abative radio frequency, natural products, finasteride and cortexolone 17 alpha propionate. The post evaluates the efficacy and safety of these treatments in various studies.

community Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

in Research 692 upvotes 3 months ago

Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

community My change after 14 months of treatment. Oral propecia 1 mg per day and oral minoxidil, today I add minoxidil and topical propecia to the protocol

in Finasteride/Dutasteride 244 upvotes 2 weeks ago

The user experienced significant hair recovery after 14 months using oral Propecia (finasteride) 1 mg daily and oral minoxidil, and recently added topical minoxidil and topical Propecia to their regimen. The doctor recommended this combination to maximize results, and the user reported no side effects, noticing improvements by the third month.

Related Research

7 / 7 results

research Hair Loss

August 2021 in “Pharmacy Today”

The document's conclusion about hair loss cannot be determined.

research Diffuse Hair Loss

June 2021 in “Elsevier eBooks”

The document's conclusion cannot be summarized because it is not readable or understandable.

research Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss with Combination Therapy

2 citations, November 2018 in “Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery”

Combining different treatments works best for female hair loss.

research A Review on Hair Loss and Damage

January 2016

The article concludes that understanding the causes of hair loss and using continuous treatments like minoxidil and finasteride can help manage it, despite potential side effects.

research Common Patterns and Etiologic Factors of Hair Loss for Women in Karak Governorate, Jordan

January 2015 in “Rawal Medical Journal”

Telogen effluvium is the main cause of hair loss in women in Karak, followed by androgenetic alopecia.

research Viviscal: An Answer for Hair Loss in Women?

August 2013 in “Pharmacy Today”

Viviscal may modestly improve hair loss in women without adverse effects.

research Drugs and Hair Loss: Mechanisms and Clinical Implications

54 citations, September 2012 in “Dermatologic Clinics”

Some medications can cause hair loss, but stopping the drug usually leads to recovery within 3 months.