The Hidden Burden of Visibility: Social Appearance Anxiety in Patients With Alopecia Areata – A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

This study examined social appearance anxiety in 129 patients with Alopecia Areata (AA) compared to 142 healthy controls. Results showed significantly higher social appearance anxiety in AA patients (SAAS score: 65.32) than controls (21.45). Anxiety and depression levels (HADS) were similar between groups, but AA patients reported a notable impact on life quality (DLQI average: 12.3), strongly linked to perceived severity and clinical visibility. The study suggests that the psychosocial burden in AA is mainly due to appearance-related factors, highlighting the need for psychosocial assessments in dermatologic care, especially for those with visible hair loss.