Boston, MA: Patients diagnosed with alopecia areata (AA) – an autoimmune disorder that results in unpredictable, patchy hair loss – frequently report consuming cannabis to alleviate symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, according to survey data published in the International Journal of Trichology.
A team of investigators affiliated with Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Department of Dermatology surveyed nearly 1,100 patients with AA. One-third of subjects acknowledged engaging in the current use of cannabis. More than two-thirds of those users said that cannabis mitigated their feelings of stress, anxiety, sadness, and depression.
Authors concluded: “A significant proportion of patients with AA use cannabis, oftentimes seeking relief from psychosocial symptoms related to their hair loss. These findings build on existing literature suggesting that patients are seeking alternative methods to address the emotional impact of AA that traditional solutions have been unable to achieve.”
Full text of the study, “Cannabis use among patients with alopecia areata: A cross-sectional survey study,” appears in the International Journal of Trichology.
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