VIDEO: Providers can help destigmatize hair loss for patients with alopecia areata

Editor’s note: This is a previously posted video, and the below is an automatically generated transcript to be used for informational purposes. Please notify editor@healio.com if there are concerns regarding accuracy of the transcription.

First of all, providers treating patients with alopecia areata need to have more awareness, also understanding the psychosocial effects it can have on patients. We talked about the cultural awareness already and understanding the whole picture, which generally we're good at, but can always focus on more. I think providers should be aware that there can be positive images for patients and good strong support networks, like the patient advocacy groups that are available. A lot of things online as well, social media. And we talked about destigmatizing hair loss for patients. I think providers really play a huge role in that really for all the conditions that we take care of, but especially hair loss in this case, helping patients understand it's just a medical condition, it's not their fault, that even though stress may play a role in triggering the disease, it's not because they can't handle their stress that they're developing this, and validating their feelings, but also helping them through the whole process. I also think that patients are more aware of alopecia areata and especially the treatments as they become FDA approved. And that's gaining a lot of media attention as well. Other patients with other types of hair loss are asking that and wondering if they have alopecia areata as well. And so continuing the education of patients so that they understand that there are differences to the different types of hair loss.