Psychosocial Impact of Alopecia Areata

Author(s):

Ryan Haumschild, PharmD, MS, MBA,Amy McMichael, MD

Key Takeaways

Alopecia areata is a chronic autoimmune disorder causing non-scarring hair loss due to immune system attacks on hair follicles.
Breakdown of immune privilege in hair follicles leads to infiltration by cytotoxic T cells, particularly CD8+ T cells.
Inflammatory cytokines like IFN-γ and TNF-α are key contributors to immune-mediated hair follicle destruction.
The chronicity of alopecia areata is linked to persistent immune dysregulation and genetic predisposition.

Panelists discuss how ongoing or recurrent hair loss in patients with alopecia areata (AA) leads to significant psychological effects, impacting their mental health, and how different forms of AA may be harder for some patients to cope with, with strategies for managing these psychological challenges in clinical practice.

EP: 1.Discussing the Pathophysiology of Alopecia Areata

EP: 2.Epidemiology Associated With Alopecia Areata

EP: 3.Common Comorbidities Associated With Alopecia Areata

EP: 4.Hallmark Symptoms Seen With Alopecia Areata

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EP: 5.Psychosocial Impact of Alopecia Areata

Video content above is prompted by the following:

Friedland: In addition to dermatologic symptoms, there are also psychological effects seen from ongoing or recurrent hair loss. How can may this these impact the mental health of the patient?
Friedland: Are there certain types of AA that patients find harder to cope with or manage than others?
Ungar: How are you best able to manage these psychological effects of AA in your practice?