A recent study has shown that adults with alopecia areata are significantly more likely to have a history of childhood and lifetime traumatic events than adults without this hair condition. Early traumatic life events therefore could be one of the factors that increase the vulnerability for developing alopecia in later life. Other studies have shown a higher incidence of stressful events six to twelve months before an outbreak of alopecia.

Childhood traumatic events have also been observed in several other stress-related diseases including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome.

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