The results of our study are in accordance with the three pattern framework of body image coping (avoidance, appearance fixing, and acceptance) (Cash et al., 2005). Females reported use of intropunitive avoidance; they stopped going to weddings, stopped meeting old friends, stopped looking in the mirror, and stopped wearing fashionable clothes. Males said they started smoking. The intropunitive avoidance can be explained

by Thompson, Kent, and Smith (2002) model based on cognitive behavioural principles. Anxiety related to appearance is likely to result from perceived stigma caused by social norms. This anxiety increases when an individual has to face a “triggering event,” leading them to assume two ways of coping intended at reducing their anxiety (specifically, avoidance and concealment). Use of homeopathic and allopathic medicines was reported by the adolescents. Females reported use of hair oil, herbal, and traditional Depsipeptide molecular weight medicines. After trying out these treatments and failing to regain their hair, females started covering their heads by wearing veils and scarfs. Histone Demethylase inhibitor Males initially tried to hide the bald patches by changing their hairstyles and later when the bald area grew in size they started wearing caps. Planning or actively coping with a diagnosis (or relapse) of AA may mean that individuals may choose to wear hair pieces and head covers such as wigs, scarves, beanies, and hats, as an effective way to deal

with visible hair loss (McKillop, 2010). Self-distraction provided relief; females reported that they started spending most of their time studying, whereas males started playing sports such as cricket. Distraction as a coping strategy has been recognized as being used by adolescents in a more sophisticated manner (Zimmer-Gembeck & Skinner, 2011). Males play either sport and females turn to other distractive activities when having to face a stressful experience (McKillop, 2010). Use of support-seeking behaviours was evident, males got support from friends and females acquired social support from their mothers. Literature proposes that females are better in receiving support from family and close friends (McKillop, 2010).

Support seeking from family as a coping behaviour is effective for some people especially women with AA (Prickitt, McMichael, Gallagher, Kalabokes, & Boeck, 2004). A greater reliance on sources of social support (beyond parents) is evident during adolescence in males (Zimmer-Gembeck & Skinner, 2011). Recitation of the Holy Quran, reading of religious books, attending religious congregations, offering prayers, attending religious rituals, praying to God, and requesting to solve the problem were frequently used religious coping strategies by females. Males coped by praying to God and getting more regular in offering prayers five times a day. God is considered as a safe haven in emotionally stressful situations (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2007).