Alopecia Areata is a particularly distressing condition. The hair loss faced by patients is unexpected, and often rapid, leaving them feeling hopeless and vulnerable. Given how much we associate our identity with how we look, patients often feel that they have lost their sense of identity when they lose their hair.
Though the emotional impact of Alopecia Areata is generally well accepted by the Alopecia community and healthcare providers, CoNCERT Pharmaceuticals funded a study aimed at fully understanding the severity and impact of the disorder on patients’ mental health. This study by Mesinkovska et al. (2020), which was recently published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that out of 216 respondents with AA, nearly 62% of them made different major life decisions as a result of their diagnosis. 85% of respondents reported coping with the disorder was a daily struggle and cited mental health concerns. Furthermore, 75% of respondents reported concealing their Alopecia all the time and spent an average of $2000 on wigs/hair pieces and psychotherapy every year.
The results of this study demonstrate the significant psychological and emotional impact that Alopecia Areata has on patients. As new treatments are being discovered, we will be tasked with convincing governments and insurance companies to cover the costs of these treatments for Alopecia Areata patients. Despite rarely being associated with a decrease in health status, these results have reinforced the notion that Alopecia Areata greatly affects our mental health and wellbeing, and warrants an effective treatment.
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