Quality of Life Assessment in Singaporean Children with Alopecia Areata

April 2024 in “ Indian Journal of Paediatric Dermatology ”

Eleanor JX Chong, Joanne Yep, Valerie Ho, Alice Yw Foong, Mark Jean Aan Koh

alopecia areata atopic dermatitis allergic rhinitis AA

Studysummary This study in Singapore found that alopecia areata generally does not significantly impact the quality of life for pediatric patients and their families, with better outcomes observed in those with comorbidities like allergic rhinitis. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The study evaluated the quality of life (QoL) in 25 Singaporean children with alopecia areata (AA) and found that AA generally has a mild impact on their QoL and that of their families. Comorbidities like allergic rhinitis were associated with better QoL scores, possibly due to their greater impact compared to AA. No significant correlation was found between the severity of scalp involvement and QoL scores. The study suggests that some patients with higher QoL scores may need more aggressive management and psychosocial support. Limitations include a small sample size and potential biases, and it calls for larger studies to further explore the impact of AA on QoL and the role of comorbidities and treatment costs.

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Research cited in this study

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research A Practical Approach to the Diagnosis and Management of Hair Loss in Children and Adolescents

40 citations , July 2017 in “Frontiers in Medicine”

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research Diagnosis and Management of Alopecia in Children

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research Clinical Severity Does Not Reliably Predict Quality of Life in Women With Alopecia Areata, Telogen Effluvium, or Androgenic Alopecia

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This study found that patients with alopecia perceive their hair loss as more severe than dermatologists do, and their own ratings of hair loss severity better reflect their quality of life impacts.

research The Pattern and Profile of Alopecia Areata in Singapore: A Study of 219 Asians

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This study found that among an Asian population with alopecia areata, commonly first episodes occurred before age 40, with severe cases linked to psychological effects and treatments showing significant regrowth.