Open AccessCumulative life course impairment of alopecia areata
Author(s) -
Lindsay H. Burns,
Natasha Atanaskova Mesinkovska,
Dory Kranz,
Abby Ellison,
Maryanne M. Senna
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of trichology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.494
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 0974-9241
pISSN - 0974-7753
DOI - 10.4103/ijt.ijt_99_20
Subject(s) - alopecia areata , coping (psychology) , disease , disconnection , medicine , life course approach , epidemiology , psychology , gerontology , psychiatry , dermatology , developmental psychology , political science , law
Alopecia areata (AA), an unpredictable, nonscarring hair loss, is commonly perceived as a cosmetic, rather than medical, concern. However, substantial evidence exists describing the negative impact on quality of life, as the disease affects patients personally, socially, financially, and physically. Over time, the cumulative disability may perpetuate poor confidence, social disconnection, negative coping strategies, and failure to achieve a full life potential. Here, we describe the cumulative life course impairment (CLCI) of AA by examining the complex interaction of (1) stigmatization, (2) physical and psychiatric comorbidities, and (3) coping strategies. The model aggregates existing cross-sectional data, which have previously captured disease burden only as snapshots in time. Thus, by examining cumulative effects, the CLCI model serves as a proxy for longitudinal data to better describe life course epidemiology of the disease.