Quality of life assessment using dermatology life quality index questionnaire in patients with alopecia attending a tertiary care teaching hospital: A prospective observational study

Background: Alopecia is a common hair disorder that can cause significant psychosocial distress, impairing self-esteem, social interactions, and everyday functioning, even with mild clinical disease. The dermatology life quality index (DLQI) is a validated tool to quantify dermatology-specific quality of life (QoL) impact. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to measure QoL impairment in adults with alopecia using the DLQI and to describe alopecia subtypes and prescribing patterns in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was performed in Navi Mumbai, India, from February to July 2025. Adults aged 18–65 years with clinically diagnosed alopecia were enrolled by convenient sampling after informed consent. Individuals with major concomitant dermatoses likely to confound DLQI scoring or those unable to respond reliably were excluded. DLQI (0–30) was administered through interviewer-guided assessment and interpreted using standard DLQI bands. Results: Sixty-five participants were included in the study. Most were aged 21–40 years (72.3%), female (56.9%), and urban residents (96.9%). Androgenetic alopecia was the predominant subtype (69.2%), followed by telogen effluvium (16.9%). DLQI demonstrated no effect in 12.3% of patients, minimal effect in 36.9%, moderate effect in 41.5%, and very large effect in 9.2%; no participant reported an extremely large effect. Minoxidil was prescribed to 72.3% of patients. Among minoxidil users, topical formulations were most common (85.1%), with near-equal use of 2% and 5% strengths. Conclusion: Most adults with alopecia experienced measurable DLQI impairment, chiefly within minimal-to-moderate ranges. Androgenetic alopecia predominated, and minoxidil constituted the mainstay therapy, frequently paired with supportive supplements or finasteride.