PS20 Scalp sensations and psychological distress in nonscarring and scarring alopecias

This study investigated the prevalence of subjective scalp sensations and their association with psychological distress in 90 patients with different types of alopecia: androgenetic alopecia (AGA), alopecia areata (AA), and lichen planopilaris (LPP). The findings revealed that scalp sensations such as hurting, burning, and itching were common across all types, with 56% of AGA, 45% of AA, and 55% of LPP patients reporting scalp hurting. Burning/stinging was reported by 33% of AGA, 32% of AA, and 34% of LPP patients, while itch was prevalent in 51% of AGA, 45% of AA, and 55% of LPP patients. Notably, burning sensations were significantly associated with psychological distress in LPP and AGA, suggesting a specific psychoneuroinflammatory pathway. This challenges the perception that nonscarring alopecias are largely asymptomatic, highlighting the need for further exploration of the psychological aspects of these conditions.