title: Camouflage technique for alopecia areata: What is a patient to do?
abstract: Alopecia areata is a devastating condition for any patient as hair is a prized component of human beauty. Poems and folktales have been written about long, luxuriant, female, golden, and chestnut hair, and even the Bible discusses the diminishment of male power when hair is lost. The question arises as to whether anyone can be beautiful without hair. The answer is a definite yes. No one can dispute the virility of a shaved male head, indicating the absence of hair can make a strikingly beautiful fashion statement. This is sadly not the case for women. With hair loss, the decision can be made to readjust to a personal image devoid of hair, yet there are those who require hair for self-confidence or simply to fit in with the rest of society. This article discusses the currently available options for those who wish to pursue camouflage of hair loss involving the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina 27262, USA. zdraelos@northstate.net
authors.forename: Zoe Diana
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Draelos
mesh_terms: D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000523:psychology; D005138:Eyebrows; D005140:Eyelashes; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012649:Self Concept