The American Journal of Managed Care (9/11, McNulty) says a study found that “nearly 8 in 10 adults with alopecia areata (AA) report experiencing stigma,” underscoring the “profound psychosocial burden experienced by adults with AA in the United States, including feelings of embarrassment, negative judgment, or being treated differently because of their condition.” Researchers observed that 79.2% of respondents with AA “reported some form of internalized or external stigma. Three in 4 (74.6%) respondents reported embarrassment due to AA, 66.8% felt judged negatively by others, and 58.7% said they were treated negatively because of their condition. The takeaways of these findings are consistent with previous research, including a study assessing attitudes toward AA among people without the condition.” The survey “also revealed notable rates of comorbid mental health conditions” and that 42% of respondents “said they were dissatisfied with their current hair growth, with dissatisfaction rising sharply with severity.” The study was published in The Journal Of Dermatology.
Related Links:
— “Patients With Alopecia Report High Rates of Internal, External Stigma,”Rose McNulty, The American Journal of Managed Care, September 11, 2025