A cross-sectional survey of adults with alopecia areata (AA) found that hair regrowth efficacy is the top factor driving treatment choice across disease severities. The questionnaire, distributed via the National Alopecia Areata Foundation and published as a letter in JAAD International, was fielded from November 2022 to January 2023 and drew 500 responses (58% response rate) from patients who had seen a provider within the prior 12 months. The sample was mostly white (80%) and female (86.2%), with about two-thirds (66.2%) reporting severe AA; nearly all respondents were insured.
Across all groups, hair growth efficacy ranked highest (mean importance score 6.51/7), while secondary priorities shifted by severity: severe AA emphasized insurance coverage next, then flare-up prevention; moderate AA placed insurance next, then side effects and flare-up prevention; and mild AA prioritized flare-up prevention, then insurance. Price and contraindications were mid-ranked overall, and respondents generally reported flexibility around treatment length, frequency, and route if therapies are effective and affordable. In regression analyses, the main difference beyond severity was that insured patients placed greater importance on insurance mitigating treatment costs than uninsured patients, and the authors noted limited diversity and potentially higher baseline health literacy—highlighting the need for broader studies that link treatment experiences and preferences to quality of life and psychological outcomes.
Reference: Kaltwasser J. Efficacy, Insurance Coverage Drive Alopecia Areata Treatment Preferences. AJMC. Published January 29, 2026. Updated February 2, 2026. Accessed February 17, 2026. https://www.ajmc.com/view/efficacy-insurance-coverage-drive-alopecia-areata-treatment-preferences
Link: Efficacy, Insurance Coverage Drive Alopecia Areata Treatment Preferences | AJMC
