Hierarchy of hair loss stigma: media portrayals of cancer, alopecia areata, and cancer in Israeli newspapers

ConclusionsOur results revealed a hierarchy of stigmas against hair loss, in which the media coverage marginalized this experience. The omission of hair loss by the media may explain, at least in part, why health professionals often ignore the psychosocial needs of these patients. Health insurance funding of wigs is a helpful but nevertheless insufficient solution to coping with feminine hair loss. Our findings may encourage media leaders to conduct planned media interventions to increase awareness of clinicians and health policymakers about the unique challenges faced by women coping with hair loss and promote health policy-making aimed at the well-being of these women.
Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research