Volunteers Needed for Study Into Emotions and Alopecia Areata

The Salford Royal Hospital, The University of Manchester and The Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility are looking for volunteers to take part in a study into emotions and Alopecia Areata.

Alopecia and emotions


Salford Study Into Alopecia Areata and Emotions Needs Volunteers

The aim of the study is to find out more about how emotions affect people with skin and hair loss conditions such as Alopecia. Although the cause of Alopecia is not known, it is classified as an autoimmune disorder and it is thought that stress and trauma can be a contributing factor.

Previous studies have found that different parts of the brain react to different emotions. For example, when study participants were shown a picture of a happy face and then a scared face, each picture affected a different part of the brain. In this study, a brain scan will reveal how different people’s brains respond to pictures of happy, scared and disgusted faces, as well as a variety of different photographs designed to elicit certain emotions.

In the past, research has shown that patients with skin and hair conditions are affected by the way other people react to their condition, so this study will help scientists to further understand how the way people react to skin conditions and hair loss affects self esteem and the mood of the sufferer.

Taking part in the study


Participants Will Have An MRI Brain Scan

Two groups of people to are required to take part in the study, which is being run in the Manchester area.  Firstly, people who have Alopecia Areata (aged between 18 and 50) and secondly, healthy volunteers with no history of skin disease.

During the study volunteers will be required to complete a number of tasks, including:


  • A telephone call to check you are suitable for the study.

  • An online survey of simple questions.

  • A visit to Manchester hospital, for a fMRI brain scan where you will be shown different pictures. This will take about 45-60 minutes.

  • Computer tasks taking around 30 minutes.


The organisers have stated that £100 compensation is available for participants in the study, due to the time and travel expenses involved in taking part. If you are interested in finding out more, visit the Citizen Scientist website.

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Alopecia Areata Photoscans The Belgravia Centre

Treating Alopecia


If you are suffering from Alopecia Areata, there are a variety of treatment options that have been found to have a positive effect on people with the condition. The Belgravia Centre offers bespoke treatment for Alopecia which has been seen to produce promising regrowth in hundreds of patients with mild to moderate Alopecia Areata. There are many examples of clients' treatment progress results featured in our Hair Loss Success Stories gallery, which visually charts clients' regrowth from before and after they start treatment. One such Alopecia client is Jagdip, pictured above, who said of his Belgravia treatment, "If it wasn’t for this place I would bald for now!!". Click on his images to view his full Success Story.

Copy of New Street Ground Floor Reception 1 no pink nail polish

The Belgravia Centre

The Belgravia Centre is a world-renowned group of a hair loss clinic in Central London, UK. If you are worried about hair loss you can arrange a free consultation with a hair loss expert or complete our Online Consultation from anywhere in the world for home-use treatment.

View our Hair Loss Success Stories, which includes the world's largest gallery of hair growth photos and demonstrates the level of success that so many of Belgravia's patients achieve.

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