Quality of Life in South African Black Women with Alopecia: A Pilot Study

November 2015 in “ International Journal of Dermatology ”

Ncoza C. Dlova, Gabriella Fabbrocini, C. di Lauro, Maria Spano, Antonella Tosti, Richard Hift

alopecia quality of life pruritus self-esteem psychosocial aspects dermatology hair loss itching mental health skin health

TLDR Alopecia greatly lowers the quality of life for South African Black women, especially affecting their self-image and social interactions.

In 2015, a pilot study involving 50 South African Black women aged 21-79 with alopecia revealed that the condition significantly affected their quality of life (QoL), with a mean QoL index (QLI) of 67.7, indicating a substantial negative impact. The study highlighted that subjective experiences of alopecia and self-image were the most detrimental to QoL, followed by relationship and social interaction issues. Objective symptoms like pruritus were less impactful. The study suggested that alopecia leads to anxiety and reduced self-esteem, and that healthcare providers should address the psychosocial aspects of the condition. It also noted that older patients tended to be more accepting of their alopecia. Despite limitations such as sample size and selection bias, the study underscored the need for more rigorous QoL research in dermatology.

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