The management of scarring alopecia can involve costs beyond appointments and medical treatments. Many patients also purchase wigs, hair toppers, extensions, and other products to help camouflage their hair loss, and these expenses may not be covered by insurance.
Study Overview
In a 2026 study, a survey was sent out through the Scarring Alopecia Foundation (SAF) to investigate the financial impact of scarring alopecia. There were a total of 1,047 people who completed the survey, most of whom were women with an average age of 58 years old.
The survey questions asked participants the amount of money they spent on medical treatment, nonmedical items such as wigs, and nonprescription products or remedies that were not supported by medical evidence. It also asked how supported patients felt by their insurance and how scarring alopecia impacted their quality of life.
How Much Were Patients Spending on Medical Treatment?
Of those who responded to the questions relating to finances, about half were found to spend between $1 and $100 each month on medical treatments. Additionally, 23% spent between $101 and $250 each month, while about 12% reported having no monthly medical expenses.
Although there were not as many patients who reported spending larger amounts, there were some who spent more than $500 or even $1,000 each month on medical treatment.
What Other Costs Did Patients Report?
Patients also reported having expenses related to nonmedical items used to help manage their hair loss, such as cranial prostheses, hair toppers, and extensions.
About half of the patients spent $100 or less on these items each year. However, nearly one in five were shown to spend more than $1,000 annually.
In addition, patients were also asked about how much money was spent on nonprescription products or remedies that were not supported by medical evidence, such as trends, fads, or products advertised as “silver bullet” treatments. The responses varied as it was found that about 37% of patients spent less than $100 each year on these products, while 21% reported spending more than $1,000 annually.
Overall, the findings from this survey show that the financial burden of scarring alopecia can extend beyond just medical treatment, as there are many patients who also spend a significant amount of money on products that help them manage their appearance and/or the emotional impact of their hair loss.
Did Insurance Help Cover These Costs?
Many patients did not feel fully supported by their insurance. About 43% reported feeling only somewhat supported, while approximately 30% felt that their insurance did not support them at all.
There was no significant difference found between patients with public and private insurance, suggesting that limited insurance support may be a concern for patients across different insurance types.
Was Greater Spending Associated with Quality of Life?
The researchers did not find a consistent relationship between the amount of money spent and one having worse quality of life, sadness, depression, or anxiety.
However, this may not mean that the financial burden isn’t important. Some patients may have purchased wigs or other products because it helped them cope with the emotional effects of their hair loss. The emotional impact of scarring alopecia itself may also have been strong enough to make the separate effect of financial stress more difficult to measure.
What Does This Mean for Patients?
This study overall shows that scarring alopecia can create costs that extend beyond appointments and prescription medications. Many patients spend money on medical treatments, wigs, hair toppers, extensions, and nonprescription products while receiving limited support from insurance.
Since the survey was completed through SAF over a short period of time, the participants may have been more involved in their care or had greater financial resources than other patients with scarring alopecia. Most participants were also women. Therefore, the results may not reflect every person’s experience living with this condition.
However, the findings show the need for better insurance coverage and greater awareness of the financial challenges faced by patients with scarring alopecia. Improving access to both medical treatments and supportive hair products may help reduce some of the burden placed on patients.
Summarized by: Sierra Schwierking, BS, MD Candidate, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, and Stephanie Trovato, MD, Board-Certified Dermatologist, Cleveland Clinic
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