Scalp Hair Regrowth Is Associated With Improvements in Health-Related Quality of Life and Psychological Symptoms in Patients With Severe Alopecia Areata: Results From Two Randomized Controlled Trials

June 2023 in “ Journal of dermatological treatment ”

Bianca Maria Piraccini, Manabu Ohyama, Brittany G. Craiglow, Anthony Bewley, Yuxin Ding, Yunfei Chen, Yves Dutronc, Evangeline Pierce, Frédérick Durand, Arash Mostaghimi

alopecia areata SALT score scalp hair regrowth health-related quality of life HRQoL anxiety depression AA hair regrowth quality of life

Studysummary This study found that patients with severe alopecia areata who experienced meaningful scalp hair regrowth showed greater improvements in health-related quality of life and reduced anxiety and depression compared to those with no or minimal regrowth. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

This post hoc analysis of two phase-3 trials involving 1200 patients with severe alopecia areata (AA) found that those with meaningful scalp hair regrowth (SALT score ≤20) at Week 36 experienced significantly greater improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and reductions in anxiety and depression compared to those with no/minimal regrowth. Specifically, 46.8% of patients with meaningful regrowth shifted from abnormal to normal anxiety scores, and 52.3% shifted from abnormal to normal depression scores, compared to 26.4% and 24.0%, respectively, in the no/minimal regrowth group. Intermediate regrowth also led to improvements, but to a lesser extent. These findings suggest that achieving meaningful hair regrowth can significantly enhance the psychological well-being and quality of life in patients with severe AA.

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Research cited in this study

6 / 6 results

research Baricitinib in Alopecia Areata

16 citations , May 2022 in “New England Journal of Medicine”

This Italian study observed that one third of patients with 25 to 50% scalp hair loss from alopecia areata still experienced active patchy disease at long-term follow-up, and another third progressed to more severe forms like alopecia totalis or universalis, with limited recovery.

research Two Phase 3 Trials of Baricitinib for Alopecia Areata

148 citations , March 2022 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

In two phase 3 trials, this study found that oral baricitinib significantly improved hair regrowth compared to placebo in adults with severe alopecia areata after 36 weeks, though longer trials are needed to ascertain its long-term efficacy and safety.

Efficacy and Safety of the Oral Janus Kinase Inhibitor Baricitinib in the Treatment of Adults with Alopecia Areata: Phase 2 Results from a Randomized Controlled Study

research Efficacy and Safety of the Oral Janus Kinase Inhibitor Baricitinib in the Treatment of Adults with Alopecia Areata: Phase 2 Results from a Randomized Controlled Study

66 citations , June 2021 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

In this phase 2 study, baricitinib at 2 mg and 4 mg doses significantly improved hair regrowth in adults with alopecia areata and ≥50% scalp hair loss compared to placebo, without new safety concerns, although the small sample size limits the results' generalizability.

‘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

research ‘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

30 citations , September 2020 in “Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes”

This study found that alopecia areata significantly impacts emotional and psychological well-being, relationships, and lifestyles, highlighting the need for increased awareness and effective treatments.

research The Alopecia Areata Investigator Global Assessment Scale: A Measure for Evaluating Clinically Meaningful Success in Clinical Trials

86 citations , January 2020 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This study developed the Alopecia Areata Investigator Global Assessment (AA-IGA) to measure scalp-hair loss in alopecia areata patients, incorporating perspectives of both patients and clinicians to define treatment success.

research Health-Related Quality of Life Among Patients With Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review

95 citations , July 2016 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This review concluded that patients with alopecia areata consistently show poor health-related quality of life scores, similar to those in other chronic skin diseases like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.