‘You Lose Your Hair, What’s the Big Deal?’ I Was So Embarrassed, I Was So Self-Conscious, I Was So Depressed: A Qualitative Interview Study to Understand the Psychosocial Burden of Alopecia Areata

In 2020, a qualitative interview study was conducted on 45 patients (58% female, average age 33.3 years) diagnosed with Alopecia Areata (AA), a condition causing hair loss. The study found that AA significantly impacted the mental health of the participants, leading to feelings of embarrassment, self-consciousness, and depression. Participants reported a high psychosocial burden, with 78% finding scalp hair loss most bothersome. Emotional impacts included feeling sad/depressed (47% of patients), embarrassed/ashamed (56% due to appearance changes), and anxious about judgement from others (42%). Social and lifestyle impacts were also reported, with 40% avoiding social situations and experiencing an impact on work or school. The study concluded that AA has a significant psychosocial burden on patients, affecting their emotional well-being, social interactions, and daily activities, and emphasized the need for greater disease awareness and effective treatments.