P6.64 The HaLo Project 1: An investigation of the psychological impact of hair loss in women

Sebastiana Biondo, Francesca E. Collins

Behavioural Studies, Faculty of Arts, Monash University, Caulfield, Australia

Objectives: The impact of female Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) on affected women’s quality of life was investigated.

Methods: Participants were Australian women who were: receiving treatment for biopsy-proven AGA (n=77); on a waiting list to receive treatment for AGA (n=53); or not affected by hair loss (n=82). All women completed the Women’s AGA Quality of Life Questionnaire.

Results: Australian women who seek treatment for AGA experience poorer quality of life than women without hair loss. Psychological responses to hair loss included fear about future hair loss, feelings of jealousy/envy about other people having thick hair, feeling unattractive, feeling powerless and frustration. Furthermore, affected women’s quality of life was not found to be affected by medical treatment for AGA.

Conclusions: The present findings are consistent with previous research showing that female AGA can be psychologically debilitating. This may reflect the assumption that a women’s self-esteem is closely tied to their appearance, with conditions that negatively alter their appearance being particularly distressing. It appears that medical intervention alone does not improve the psychological well being and quality of life of AGA affected women and psychological interventions which address the specific psychological difficulties associated with AGA are indicated.