Does alopecia affect mental health?

Author: Retta Schmeler  |  Last update: Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Compared with the general population, increased prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders are associated with alopecia (Koo et al., 1994) suggesting that people with alopecia may be at higher risk for development of a major depressive episode, anxiety disorder, social phobia or paranoid disorder.

Does alopecia affect the brain?

Androgenic alopecia (AGA) is associated with significant cardiovascular risk factors that also have a negative impact on brain aging.

How do you mentally deal with alopecia?

Ways to cope with hair loss
  1. Join a support group. There are groups around the country where you can meet and socialise with other people with alopecia. ...
  2. Accept it. It's not easy, but try to come to terms with your hair loss. ...
  3. Talk about it. ...
  4. Cover up. ...
  5. Be patient. ...
  6. Avoid miracle cures.

How does alopecia make you feel?

If you have alopecia areata, it generally doesn't cause pain or other symptoms. However, some people say that right before they lose their hair, they feel tingling, itching, or burning on the skin where the hair will fall out.

How does alopecia affect self-esteem?

Multiple studies have linked male pattern hair loss to lowered self-esteem and decreased confidence. A 2019 study in the International Journal of Trichology found that androgenic alopecia lowered the quality of life for many men, with particular effects in the areas of self-perception and interpersonal relations.

5 tips for your mental health and alopecia

How is a person's daily life affected by alopecia?

How does alopecia areata affect daily life? For many people, hair is an important part of their appearance and self-image, and any type of hair loss can lower self-esteem and confidence. In alopecia areata, the unpredictable cycle of hair loss and regrowth can make the symptoms even more difficult to cope with.

Is alopecia considered a disability?

Alopecia areata is not medically disabling; persons with alopecia areata are usually in excellent health. But emotionally, this disease can be challenging, especially for those with extensive hair loss.

Does alopecia affect your memory?

Alopecia areata (AA), an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss, including baldness, has been linked to a significantly increased risk for dementia, new research shows.

Is alopecia hard to live with?

Because hair loss and regrowth from alopecia areata is unpredictable and sometimes cyclical (comes back again and again), having the condition can be frustrating and emotionally challenging for many people.

Can alopecia cause other problems?

People with alopecia areata have an increased risk of developing other autoimmune disorders, including vitiligo, systemic lupus erythematosus, atopic dermatitis, allergic asthma, and autoimmune thyroid diseases (such as Hashimoto thyroiditis and Graves disease).

Does alopecia affect anything else?

Alopecia areata primarily affects hair, but in some cases, there are nail changes as well.

Does alopecia make you tired?

Answer: Alopecia areata and fatigue and cold intolerance

Suppression of adrenal gland function can lead to both fatigue and cold intolerance for example.

Does alopecia cause stress?

A variety of factors are thought to cause alopecia areata (al-o-PEE-she-uh ar-e-A-tuh), possibly including severe stress. With alopecia areata, the body's immune system attacks the hair follicles — causing hair loss.

What is the big deal about alopecia?

Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by hair loss that can affect the scalp, face (e.g. eyebrows and eyelashes) and body [1].

Do most people recover from alopecia?

In most people, new hair eventually grows back in the affected areas, although this process can take months. Approximately 50 percent of people with mild alopecia areata recover within a year; however, most people will experience more than one episode during their lifetime.

What is the root cause of alopecia?

Hair loss (alopecia) can affect just your scalp or your entire body, and it can be temporary or permanent. It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging. Anyone can lose hair on their head, but it's more common in men.

Is alopecia embarrassing?

According to the study — published in the Journal of Dermatological Reviews — that ascertained the impact of alopecia or hair loss on the quality of life among adults in India, many of the questionnaire respondents “reported feeling ashamed, embarrassed, frustrated, humiliated, or annoyed due to alopecia”.

Can alopecia cause depression?

Hair loss may lead to depression, anxiety, and social phobia. Depression can lead to a feeling of low mood, lack of interest or pleasure in activities, loss of energy, and sleep deprivation. Anxiety can cause excessive worrying, difficulty in controlling those feelings, and a feeling of heightened tension.

Does alopecia affect quality of life?

Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune disorder which causes hair loss. It has been previously reported that both alopecia disorders can have negative effects on quality of life.

How do you tell someone you have alopecia?

Here are the things I need when telling someone I have Alopecia.
  1. A stable base of support so that there isn't just one person supporting you (vital)
  2. A plan of what you're going to say so your nerves don't get the better of you.
  3. A safe and neutral place to do it.
  4. A good segue from normal conversation.

How do you date with alopecia?

Top Dating Tips for People Who Have Alopecia
  1. Put it in perspective. Yes, alopecia is a medical condition, but it doesn't pose any serious danger to your health. ...
  2. Say as much (or little) as you want. ...
  3. Know how to explain alopecia. ...
  4. Open up when you feel ready.

Does alopecia worsen with age?

Alopecia areata can occur at any age but about half of cases come on in childhood and 80% of cases come on before the age of 40 years. Men and women are equally affected. The condition tends to be milder if it comes on at an older age.

Is alopecia caused by trauma?

Traumatic alopecia results from the forceful extraction of hair or the breaking of hair shafts by friction, pressure, traction, or other physical trauma. The usual causes are cosmetic practices and trichotillomania.

Can I get a disability check for alopecia?

The condition is not covered by any legislation designed to combat disability discrimination such as the Americans with Disabilities Act in the U.S. or the Equality Act in the U.K.

Who gets alopecia the most?

Alopecia areata is more common among African Americans but less common among Asians, compared with whites, according to a new study involving registry data for more than 11,000 individuals.

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