{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,4]],"date-time":"2026-08-04T04:45:52Z","timestamp":1785818752364,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"15","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,1]],"date-time":"2026-08-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785542400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100005888","name":"Medical University of Lodz","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["500\/1-064-01\/503-11-001"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["500\/1-064-01\/503-11-001"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100005888","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"award":["500\/1-064-01\/503-11-001"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["500\/1-064-01\/503-11-001"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/02t4ekc95","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["J. Clin. Med.","JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Objectives: Alopecia areata (AA) is a widespread autoimmune condition causing non-scarring hair loss, significantly affecting the quality of life. Despite its prevalence, data on diagnostic and treatment efficacy and the quality of patient care in Poland remain unstudied. The aim of this study was to assess the current clinical approaches to the diagnosis and management of alopecia areata by dermatologists in Poland and to highlight the challenges encountered by Polish patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted regarding dermatologists and AA patients in Poland. The data were gathered from distinct proprietary surveys: an original questionnaire for doctors, and DLQI, CDLQI, AAPPO, WPAI+CIQ:AS, and SF-36 questionnaires for patients. Results: The study included 100 dermatologists and 252 patients from Poland. The study revealed that the care provided to patients with alopecia areata is inadequate and lacks a comprehensive approach, despite the negative disease impact on patients\u2019 quality of life. A number of physicians do not follow the diagnostic and treatment guidelines. Despite the registration of next-generation treatments like Janus kinase inhibitors, access to these medications remained limited until recently. Conclusions: Alopecia areata in Poland poses significant diagnostic, therapeutic, and psychosocial challenges. While clinical practice largely aligns with international recommendations, notable gaps remain in the use of validated severity tools, psychosocial assessment, and access to advanced therapies. The recent reimbursement of ritlecitinib represents a breakthrough, bringing Polish care in line with global standards. However, optimal management requires not only pharmacological advances but also interdisciplinary strategies integrating psychological support, patient advocacy, and public education to reduce stigma and improve overall quality of life for affected individuals.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm15155993","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]],"date-time":"2026-08-03T11:50:21Z","timestamp":1785757821000},"page":"5993","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Assessing Alopecia Areata Management in Poland: Challenges in Medical Practices and Patient Care"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-6737-6055","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Julia","family":"Hofmann","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Student Scientific Research Club of Experimental, Clinical and Procedural Dermatology, Medical University of Lodz, Pomorska Street 251, 92-213 Lodz, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-9095-4880","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"\u0141ukasz","family":"Ch\u0119tko","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Student Scientific Research Club of Experimental, Clinical and Procedural Dermatology, Medical University of Lodz, Pomorska Street 251, 92-213 Lodz, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0109-4331","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Igor","family":"Bednarski","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurology, Medical University of Lodz, ul. Kopci\u0144skiego 22, 90-153 Lodz, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria","family":"Rajczak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Pediatric Dermatology and Oncology, Medical University of Lodz, Pomorska Street 251, 92-213 Lodz, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ma\u0142gorzata","family":"Dominiak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Pediatric Dermatology and Oncology, Medical University of Lodz, Pomorska Street 251, 92-213 Lodz, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joanna","family":"Narbutt","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Pediatric Dermatology and Oncology, Medical University of Lodz, Pomorska Street 251, 92-213 Lodz, Poland"},{"name":"Dermoklinika Medical Centre S.C. M. Kierstan, J. Narbutt, A. Lesiak, al. Ko\u015bciuszki, 90-436 Lodz, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Aleksandra","family":"Lesiak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Pediatric Dermatology and Oncology, Medical University of Lodz, Pomorska Street 251, 92-213 Lodz, Poland"},{"name":"Dermoklinika Medical Centre S.C. M. Kierstan, J. Narbutt, A. Lesiak, al. Ko\u015bciuszki, 90-436 Lodz, Poland"},{"name":"Laboratory of Autoinflammatory, Genetic and Rare Skin Disorders, Medical University of Lodz, Pomorska Street 251, 92-213 Lodz, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"403","DOI":"10.1007\/s12016-021-08883-0","article-title":"Alopecia Areata: An Update on Etiopathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Management","volume":"61","author":"Zhou","year":"2021","journal-title":"Clin. Rev. Allergy Immunol."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"17011","DOI":"10.1038\/nrdp.2017.11","article-title":"Alopecia Areata","volume":"3","author":"Pratt","year":"2017","journal-title":"Nat. Rev. Dis. Primers"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2017.04.1141","article-title":"Alopecia areata: Disease characteristics, clinical evaluation, and new perspectives on pathogenesis","volume":"78","author":"Strazzulla","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Am. Acad. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Minokawa, Y., Sawada, Y., and Nakamura, M. (2022). Lifestyle Factors Involved in the Pathogenesis of Alopecia Areata. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 23.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms23031038"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"74","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaut.2018.12.001","article-title":"Alopecia areata: A multifactorial autoimmune condition","volume":"98","author":"Simakou","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Autoimmun."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1033","DOI":"10.1111\/bjd.16808","article-title":"Alopecia areata: A review of disease pathogenesis","volume":"179","author":"Rajabi","year":"2018","journal-title":"Br. J. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1478","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaci.2019.08.035","article-title":"Frontiers in alopecia areata pathobiology research","volume":"144","author":"Gilhar","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Allergy Clin. Immunol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2318","DOI":"10.1111\/jocd.14416","article-title":"Alopecia areata: A psychodermatological perspective","volume":"21","author":"Torales","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Cosmet. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"397","DOI":"10.2147\/CCID.S53985","article-title":"Epidemiology and burden of alopecia areata: A systematic review","volume":"8","author":"Miteva","year":"2015","journal-title":"Clin. Cosmet. Investig. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2020.03.004","article-title":"The Alopecia Areata Consensus of Experts (ACE) study: Results of an international expert opinion on treatments for alopecia areata","volume":"83","author":"Meah","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Am. Acad. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.5114\/dr.2023.127704","article-title":"Alopecia areata. Diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations of the Polish Dermatological Society. Part 1: Treatment","volume":"110","author":"Rakowska","year":"2023","journal-title":"Dermatol. Rev."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1490","DOI":"10.1111\/jdv.18926","article-title":"The burden of alopecia areata: A scoping review focusing on quality of life, mental health and work productivity","volume":"37","author":"Muntyanu","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Eur. Acad. Dermatol. Venereol."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"205","DOI":"10.2165\/00128071-200405030-00009","article-title":"Videodermatoscopy enhances diagnostic capability in some forms of hair loss","volume":"5","author":"Lacarrubba","year":"2004","journal-title":"Am. J. Clin. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rudnicka, L., Olszewska, M., and Rakowska, A. (2012). Atlas of Trichoscopy: Dermoscopy in Hair and Scalp Disease, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-4471-4486-1"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"46","DOI":"10.4103\/0974-7753.82124","article-title":"Light microscopy of the hair: A simple tool to \u201cuntangle\u201d hair disorders","volume":"3","author":"Inamadar","year":"2011","journal-title":"Int. J. Trichology"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"695","DOI":"10.1016\/j.det.2013.06.007","article-title":"Hair shafts in trichoscopy: Clues for diagnosis of hair and scalp diseases","volume":"31","author":"Rudnicka","year":"2013","journal-title":"Dermatol. Clin."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"628","DOI":"10.4103\/0019-5154.193668","article-title":"Evaluation of Clinical Significance of Dermoscopy in Alopecia Areata","volume":"61","author":"Guttikonda","year":"2016","journal-title":"Indian J. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"241","DOI":"10.1177\/12034754231168839","article-title":"Alopecia Areata: An Updated Review for 2023","volume":"27","author":"Sibbald","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Cutan. Med. Surg."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"359","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2021.08.043","article-title":"Development of the alopecia areata scale for clinical use: Results of an academic-industry collaborative effort","volume":"86","author":"King","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Am. Acad. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.5114\/dr.2023.127705","article-title":"Alopecia areata. Diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations of the Polish Society of Dermatology. Part 2: Treatment","volume":"110","author":"Rakowska","year":"2023","journal-title":"Dermatol. Rev."},{"key":"ref_21","unstructured":"Ministry of Health of Poland (2026, June 21). Notice of the Minister of Health of 17 June 2025, on the List of Reimbursed Medicinal Products, Foods for Special Medical Purposes, and Medical Devices Effective as of 1 July 2025, Available online: https:\/\/dziennikmz.mz.gov.pl\/legalact\/2025\/39\/."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.4103\/ijt.ijt_99_17","article-title":"Alopecia Areata: Review of Epidemiology, Clinical Features, Pathogenesis, and New Treatment Options","volume":"10","author":"Darwin","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. Trichology"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e70076","DOI":"10.1111\/jocd.70076","article-title":"Global Burden of Alopecia Areata and Associated Diseases: A Trend Analysis From 1990 to 2021","volume":"24","author":"Zhou","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Cosmet. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"827","DOI":"10.1093\/jamia\/ocy024","article-title":"Analysis of the effects of EHR implementation on timeliness of care in a dermatology clinic: A simulation study","volume":"25","author":"Vahdat","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Am. Med. Inform. Assoc."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"European Medicines Agency (2026, May 11). Olumiant (Baricitinib). EMA\/480402\/2023. Available online: https:\/\/www.ema.europa.eu\/en\/medicines\/human\/EPAR\/olumiant."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"674","DOI":"10.1111\/pde.15614","article-title":"The American Academy of Dermatology\u2019s \u201cGood Skin Knowledge\u201d program enhances children and adolescents\u2019 confidence regarding dermatologic knowledge","volume":"41","author":"Ramos","year":"2024","journal-title":"Pediatr. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jisp.2020.05.005","article-title":"Forging the Future: 2018 Alopecia Areata Research Summit Summary Report","volume":"20","author":"Ellison","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Investig. Dermatol. Symp. Proc."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yu, J., Paranagama, D., and Parasuraman, S. (2020). Recruitment strategies and geographic representativeness for patient survey studies in rare diseases: Experience from the living with myeloproliferative neoplasms patient survey. PLoS ONE, 15.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0243562"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"504","DOI":"10.1097\/MAO.0000000000002151","article-title":"Influence of Selection Bias in Survey Studies Derived From a Patient-Focused Organization: A Comparison of Response Data From a Single Tertiary Care Center and the Acoustic Neuroma Association","volume":"40","author":"Prummer","year":"2019","journal-title":"Otol. Neurotol."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"257","DOI":"10.1111\/bjd.20628","article-title":"The epidemiology of alopecia areata: A population-based cohort study in UK primary care","volume":"186","author":"Harries","year":"2022","journal-title":"Br. J. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e295","DOI":"10.1016\/S2665-9913(25)00343-1","article-title":"Strengthening rheumatology research through meaningful engagement of people with lived experience","volume":"8","author":"Adams","year":"2026","journal-title":"Lancet Rheumatol."}],"container-title":["Journal of Clinical Medicine"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2077-0383\/15\/15\/5993\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,4]],"date-time":"2026-08-04T04:21:44Z","timestamp":1785817304000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2077-0383\/15\/15\/5993"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,1]]},"references-count":31,"journal-issue":{"issue":"15","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8]]}},"alternative-id":["jcm15155993"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/jcm15155993","relation":{},"ISSN":["2077-0383"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2077-0383","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,1]]}}}