Beyond Skin Deep: Self-Compassion Mediates the Link Between Body Shame and Psychopathology in People With Alopecia and Psoriasis

    March 2026 in “ Health Psychology Report ”
    Diogo Carreiras, Rita Simões, Miguel Alves
    Image of study
    TLDR Self-compassion can help reduce body shame and psychological distress in people with alopecia and psoriasis.
    This study investigated the psychological impact of alopecia and psoriasis, focusing on the role of self-compassion in mediating the relationship between body shame and psychopathology. It involved 377 adults from the general population, 78 with alopecia, and 67 with psoriasis. Results indicated that individuals with these dermatological conditions experience higher body shame and depressive symptoms, and lower self-compassion compared to the general population. Self-compassion was found to be negatively correlated with body shame, depressive, and anxiety symptoms. Mediation analyses revealed that self-compassion significantly mediated the relationship between external shame and both depression and anxiety, explaining 50% and 22% of the variance, respectively. The findings suggest that compassion-focused therapies could be beneficial in reducing body image shame and related psychological distress in people with alopecia and psoriasis.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    10 / 10 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 1000+ results

      community I am a dermatologist with a clinical interest in alopecia. AMA

      in Will treatment work for me? 3 years ago
      In this conversation, 4990 discussed various treatments for hair loss, including oral minoxidil, PRP, transplan, Jak inhibitors, Dutasteride, Finasteride, Olumiant, Ketoconazole, RU58841, microneedling, baricitinib, and CCCA. They recommended scalp biopsies in unclear cases of DUPA, twice weekly to twice daily shampooing for topical minoxidil users, and two sessions spaced one month apart with follow up at month three to determine the effectiveness of PRP treatment.

      community Sunlight: Does it Stimulate Hair Growth or Hair Loss?

      in Research/Science  64 upvotes 1 year ago
      The conversation discusses whether sunlight exposure affects hair growth or loss, with mixed anecdotes and theories but no clear consensus. Some suggest moderate sunlight can benefit hair by providing vitamin D, while others doubt its effectiveness compared to treatments like Minoxidil or finasteride.

      community Androgenetic alopecia is a skin disease: DHT-mediated skin disorders

      in Research/Science  65 upvotes 2 years ago
      Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) impacts various skin conditions, including Androgenetic alopecia and seborrheic dermatitis, by causing overactivity in sebaceous glands. Topical medications Tacrolimus and Clobetasol can reduce these inflammatory conditions, and treatments like RU58841, Minoxidil, and Finasteride may also be beneficial.

      community What else is good. Besides the big 3.

      in Chat  35 upvotes 1 year ago
      Key treatments for hair preservation include minoxidil, finasteride/dutasteride, and microneedling, with additional options like specific shampoos, oils, biotin, zinc, tretinoin, clascoterone, and low-level laser therapy. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, reducing stress, and addressing nutrient deficiencies can also support hair health.

    Similar Research

    5 / 1000+ results