Hair Loss and Quality of Life Impact

The study evaluated the impact of hair loss on the quality of life among a representative sample of the French population aged 15 and older. Using the SF-12 health survey, it was found that hair loss affected men and women differently: men experienced more physical impairment (PCS-12 score, 48.57 vs 49.22; P < .001), while women experienced more mental impairment (MCS-12 score, 44.26 vs 46.83; P < .001). Additionally, those who felt hair loss was a disability or embarrassment had significantly lower mental health scores (PCS-12 score, 41.85 vs 46.6; P < .001). Despite the impact, 70% of women and 89% of men had never been treated for hair loss. The study concluded that the SF-12 is an effective tool for assessing the quality of life in patients with hair loss, highlighting different dimensions of impairment for men and women.