A case study: massage, relaxation, and reward for treatment of alopecia areata

Alopecia areata, a common cause of hair loss, is generally considered the consequence of an autoimmune process. Both physiological and psychological factors have been implicated. Previous studies have not incorporated behavior modification in their treatment designs. In this study, three treatment techniques (hair massage, relaxation procedures, and monetary reward) were applied to a 16-year-old male with a five-year history of alopecia areata. Comparison for seven months without treatment versus seven months with treatment showed that loss of hair was markedly reduced after three months of treatment. During the last four months of the study, new hair growth was evidenced.