Reply to the Comment of Bootsma et al. on 'The Journey of Patients with Skin Diseases from the First Consultation to the Diagnosis in a Representative Sample of the European General Population from the EADV Burden of Skin Diseases Study'

In response to Bootsma et al.'s comments, the authors clarify that their study on 44,689 individuals from 27 European countries found that 8% reported having alopecia, with 44.7% not consulting a healthcare professional. They emphasize that their study's general population sample may differ from those in clinical settings, potentially underestimating the impact of alopecia on quality of life. They acknowledge the significant burden of conditions like alopecia areata and scarring alopecia but note that milder forms may not prompt consultation. The authors stress the importance of recognizing alopecia's psychological impact and call for improved treatment and management strategies.