Experiences of adolescents with alopecia areata and rating their own hair loss with questionnaires

Abstract

British Journal of DermatologyVolume 186, Issue 5 p. e201-e201 Plain Language Summary Experiences of adolescents with alopecia areata and rating their own hair loss with questionnaires First published: 02 May 2022 https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.21254AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Abstract Linked Article: Macey et al. Br J Dermatol 2022; 186:849–860. Alopecia areata (AA) is a medical condition that affects 2% of people. AA can cause hair loss and nail damage. Hair loss, especially on the face and head, can be upsetting and embarrassing for patients. Eyebrow and/or eyelash loss can lead to eye irritation from dust. New treatments for AA are being developed and we need questionnaires to find out how the treatments affect patients. Adults with AA have found questionnaires and photoguides that measure scalp hair loss, eyebrow loss, eyelash loss, nail damage and eye irritation to be acceptable and appropriate. However, research was needed to find out if the questionnaires were acceptable and appropriate for adolescents with AA. This study had researchers from the USA and the UK. In the study 11 adolescents in the USA who had AA (age 12–17 years) were interviewed to understand their experience of AA and to see if they could use the questionnaires. Scalp hair loss was most bothersome to the adolescents, followed by eyebrow and eyelash loss. They described worry, self-consciousness, social judgement, sadness, time spent hiding hair loss, avoiding activities, difficulties at school and eye irritation. The adolescents understood and could accurately use the questionnaires and photoguides to rate their own hair loss. Like adults, adolescents felt that an AA treatment would be successful if it resulted in at least 80% scalp hair (less than 20% missing hair). These results suggest that the questionnaires would be suitable for use by adolescents with AA to assess the effects of new treatments in clinical trials. Volume186, Issue5May 2022Pages e201-e201 RelatedInformation