Alopecia and Mental Health: Psychosocial Burden, Neuroendocrine Mechanisms, and Therapeutic Implications

    February 2026 in “ Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) ”
    Karolina Zygoń-Komendarczyk, Pola Sitek, Katarzyna Oberska, Sandra Olewińska, Dariusz Szołtys, Aleksandra Lisowska, Michalina Adamczyk, Tola Kotkiewicz, Oliwia Jerzyńska, Yelyzaveta Petrenko
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    TLDR Alopecia affects mental health, causing depression and anxiety, but new treatments can improve both hair growth and quality of life.
    Alopecia, including types like alopecia areata (AA), androgenetic alopecia (AGA), and others, significantly impacts mental health, leading to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and reduced quality of life. This review highlights the psychosocial burden of alopecia and its association with psychiatric comorbidities, emphasizing the role of neuroendocrine mechanisms, particularly the dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Recent studies show that individuals with alopecia areata have higher rates of depressive and anxiety disorders, influenced by immune activation and stress-related HPA axis dysregulation. Emerging treatments, such as Janus kinase inhibitors and psychodermatologic interventions, not only promote hair regrowth but also improve quality of life, suggesting that alopecia should be considered a stress-responsive inflammatory condition with significant psychiatric implications.
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