TLDR The conclusion is that understanding and addressing the psychological effects of alopecia areata is important for effective treatment.
The document from 2018 examines the psychosomatic aspects of alopecia areata (AA), highlighting the condition's significant psychological and social impact on patients. It points out that AA, which has an autoimmune etiology, can be triggered by stressful life events and psychiatric disorders, and in turn, can worsen psychological issues. The paper notes high incidences of neurotic personality, depression, anxiety, and poor stress coping mechanisms among AA patients and stresses the importance of recognizing those in need of psychological support, particularly women, young patients, and those with extensive AA or a history of psychiatric disorders. It also mentions the use of various tools to assess psychiatric damage in AA patients and the commonality of psychiatric morbidities such as depression and anxiety. The efficacy of treatments like antidepressants, psychotherapy, and hypnotherapy for AA has not been thoroughly evaluated in clinical trials. The document concludes by emphasizing the need for dermatologists to be aware of the psychological factors associated with AA to ensure successful treatment outcomes, and the benefits of support groups for emotional support and treatment compliance.
95 citations,
July 2016 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” People with alopecia areata, a skin disease, generally have a poor quality of life, especially if more of their scalp is affected.
128 citations,
February 2016 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Alopecia areata significantly lowers the quality of life, especially in emotional and mental health aspects.
25 citations,
December 2015 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” Alopecia areata significantly lowers quality of life, especially in personal and social areas, and more so if the patient is also depressed.
19 citations,
January 2013 in “Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery” Alopecia patients struggle with emotions and stress, and improving emotional intelligence may help manage hair loss.
66 citations,
May 2011 in “Dermatologic therapy” Guidelines help design better trials to compare alopecia areata treatments.
143 citations,
January 2004 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings” Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease causing hair loss, treatable with immune-modulating drugs, and linked to genetics.
127 citations,
December 2005 in “Experimental Dermatology” Stress can stop hair growth in mice, and treatments can reverse this effect.
November 2022 in “IntechOpen eBooks” Hair loss can significantly impact a person's mental health, causing issues like anxiety and depression, and stress can trigger hair loss.
291 citations,
January 2014 in “The Scientific World Journal” Lichen Planus is a less common condition affecting skin and mucous membranes, with various types and associated risk factors, challenging to diagnose, significantly impacts life quality, and may have a risk of cancerous changes in oral lesions.
March 2014 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” The document lists various dermatology topics, treatments, and diagnostic methods.
21 citations,
January 1988 in “Stress Medicine” Stress affects skin health and emotional well-being should be considered in skin disease treatment.
