The Role of Psychological Factors and Serum Zinc, Folate, and Vitamin B12 Levels in the Aetiology of Trichodynia: A Case-Control Study

April 2009 in “ Clinical and Experimental Dermatology ”

Çiçek Durusoy, Yarkın Özenli, Aynur Adiguzel, I. Y. Budakoglu, Oya Tugal, Serap Arıkan, Ali Uğur Uslu, A. Tülin Güleç

trichodynia diffuse hair loss zinc folate vitamin B12 Beck Depression Inventory Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire depression somatoform dissociation alopecia hair pain hair thinning B12

TLDR Psychological factors like depression may be more important than zinc, folate, and vitamin B12 levels in causing scalp pain in people with hair loss.

The study examined the occurrence of trichodynia in 91 patients with diffuse hair loss compared to 74 healthy individuals, assessing serum levels of zinc, folate, and vitamin B12, and the influence of psychological factors. It found that 33% of the patients experienced trichodynia, but there was no significant difference in the serum levels of the nutrients between the two groups or between patients with and without trichodynia. However, those with trichodynia showed significantly higher scores on the Beck Depression Inventory and the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire, indicating that depression and somatoform dissociation may contribute to the development of trichodynia. The study concluded that psychological factors might be more relevant than nutrient levels in the pathogenesis of trichodynia in individuals with diffuse alopecia.

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The Role of Psychological Factors and Serum Zinc, Folate, and Vitamin B12 Levels in the Aetiology of Trichodynia: A Case-Control Study

Research cited in this study

research Dietary Supplement Increases Anagen Hair Rate in Women With Telogen Effluvium: Results of a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

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research The Presence of Trichodynia in Patients With Telogen Effluvium and Androgenetic Alopecia

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research Scalp Dysesthesia: A Study on Chronic Pain and Itchiness

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