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Reach out for Support: Hair Loss Charities in the UK
Suffering from hair loss can be an incredibly stressful and worrying time. Utilizing products, like RESTRAND Instant Hair Thickening Spray, is a great way to re-build some of that confidence that may have been lost because of the thinning of your hair. But sometimes, it can be of further help to seek the support of other people that have been in a similar situation.
The UK has a wonderful network of charities that specialise in hair loss. Whether your hair loss is a result of cancer treatment or through conditions like Alopecia, it is very important to know that there are support networks out there that can help you. There is a wide selection of UK charities that you can get into contact with, some which specialise in different conditions and ages.
Charities That Support Alopecia-Related Hair Loss
Alopecia is an auto-immune disorder that affects between 1 and 2 people per 1000 people in the UK. The condition can be both temporary or permanent, and commonly occurs in people between 15 and 29 years of age. There are a number of charities that specialise in Alopecia, and the different varieties that can result in a varying degree of hair loss.
The three main Alopecia charities in the UK are:
- Alopecia Awareness
- Alopecia UK
- Alopecia World
Each charity is a little different, with Alopecia Awareness providing support groups for sufferers, Alopecia UK performing valuable research in the area of Alopecia, and Alopecia World providing an extensive support network where sufferers of hair loss can talk about their condition online. Charities like My New Hair, are also available to support both cancer-related hair loss sufferers and Alopecia sufferers, working with salons nationwide to create wigs for people that need them.
Charities That Support Cancer-Related Hair Loss
The treatment for cancer means that many people must adjust to changes with their body and the way that they feel. Hair loss can be the result of a multitude of different cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormonal therapy. If you have suffered from hair loss as a result of cancer treatment, or are concerned that your treatment could cause hair loss, there are multiple charities that you can reach out to.
The five main cancer-related hair loss charities in the UK are:
- Cancer Hair Care
- HeadStrong Cancer Support
- Little Princess Trust
- Hero by LPT
- Walk the Walk
HeadStrong Cancer Support and Cancer Hair Care, both provide support networks where you can talk to people and learn how to prepare for hair loss, while Walk the Walk is helping to fund hair-saving caps for cancer treatment patients. Little Princess Trust and Hero by LPT, are charities that support children undergoing cancer treatment, with Little Princess Trust supporting girls and Hero by LPT supporting boys.
Helplines That Offer Support When You Need It
Along with the support provided by UK charities, there are also helplines that specialise in giving hair loss advise. BeBold and Hairline International, are two of the helplines that can be contacted if you need support with your hair loss.
Reaching out for support during hair loss is one of the best ways to adjust to your new appearance. With products like Instant hair thickening spray available, and a great support network through UK charities, there is no reason you should have to combat your condition alone.
Campaigning for Change: The MHRA and Counterfeit Treatments
These days, it’s near impossible to spend time browsing websites, or even social media, without encountering an advert that is claiming something extraordinary. These span from wonder treatments that will cause you to lose weight rapidly, to those that promise a hair loss treatment that will leave you with a full head of hair in weeks. Today, it is harder than ever to separate fact from fiction.
Many of these adverts look very professional, with medical backing and ‘examples’ of how the treatment has worked for some people. However, in many cases, these treatments are counterfeit, or the product has been compromised. Designed to look appealing to customers who are seeking a way to save a bit of money, but instead leaving them out of pocket and in a potentially harmful position.
The main defence that UK customers have against these kinds of products, is the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). In the past, the agency has primarily worked behind the scenes; identifying and seizing counterfeit products, and warning the public of scams. But, as the world of counterfeit treatments continues to grow, they have brought their Fake Meds campaign to the public for a second year.
Putting a Stop to Counterfeit Hair Loss Treatments
There are many official products on the market that offer treatments for hair loss, such as Instant Hair Thickener, that is proven to work and comes from a reputable company. However, there is also a large number of fake products that customers in the UK need to be made aware of. Every year, the MHRA is responsible for stopping the supply of an extensive range of different fake treatments.
In 2016, in excess of 100,000 doses of erectile disfunction medication that was unlicensed, was seized from a man in London. This was in addition to even more prescription medication. The man received an imprisonment sentence of 20 months and was also ordered to pay surcharges.
Another case, also from 2016, saw a man in Tooting imprisoned for 4 years for multiple offences. These included money laundering, but also the sale and importation of unlicensed medication. Amongst the medication were quantities of erectile disfunction medication and medication for the treatment of hair loss, some of which was counterfeit.
Supporting the Fake Meds Campaign
One of the best ways to help stop the sale of counterfeit medication, is to support the Fake Meds campaign, which uses the hashtag #FakeMeds. Along with safety tips, the campaign has introduced a yellow card system that allows the public to inform the MHRA of concerns over counterfeit medication that they may have bought. Through their website, you can check if a service that you’re considering using is registered, report suspicious suppliers, and inform them of side effects that you believe have been caused because of counterfeit medication.
The sale of counterfeit, compromised, or unlicensed medication, not only poses a risk to the public through ineffective results, but can cause a wide range of further medical issues. If you’re looking for hair loss treatment, like restrand instant hair thickener, then buying from a company that is trusted, is incredibly important.
How Does Winter Effect Hair Loss?
There has been a long held belief that people tend to lose more hair in the winter, so as the colder weather is just around the corner, it can be a worrying time for those who have concerns about thinning locks.
Although the idea that cold weather promotes hair loss continues to persist, lower temperatures in themselves do not have any effect on the amount of hair that is shed. In fact, studies have shown that people often lose least hair during the colder months. However, there are other factors at play which cause excess hair loss at this time of year.
The environmental changes that we experience during the winter can dehydrate the scalp – we are moving from a cold outdoor environment into the centrally heated indoor environment and the result of these rapid changes is a dry scalp paired with brittle hair. This damage is then exacerbated by wearing a hat, as the friction and stress on the strands of hair could end up causing clumps of hair to fall out.
Looking after your hair in winter
Taking proper care of your hair during the winter is very important to prevent the damage which can result in hair loss. Ensuring the scalp and hair remain well moisturised is key, and using a rich conditioner at least once per week is a good way to help minimise any damage. A shampoo which contains natural essential oils and shea butter, and which has no alcohol or harmful chemicals will help to guard against dry, frizzy hair which is prone to breakage, giving you the best possible chance to reduce the amount of hair lost during the colder months.
Another issue which may be experienced during the winter is seasonal hair loss. Everyone loses hair on a daily basis, with the average number being around 50 to 100 strands. However, at some times of year, the number will be closer to the upper end of that range, meaning that the loss is a lot more noticeable. As the most common time for this to happen is in October and November, it contributes to the idea that winter causes hair loss. The problem is actually called seasonal shedding, and while it is primarily noticed in women, it also occurs in men too.
The good news is that seasonal shedding is usually nothing to be concerned about, however if you think that more than 100 strands are being lost each day, or if you notice bald patches starting to appear, it could be a sign of pattern baldness instead.
If you are worried about your thinning hair, you may want to look at ways of disguising the problem. A hair loss concealer spray is one of the best options, since it coats the individual strands of hair to make them appear to have more texture whilst also looking thicker and fuller. Simple and convenient to use, a hair thickening spray can help to restore your confidence and to make you look and feel much younger.
The Inѕ аnd Outs of Hаіr Trаnѕрlаntаtіоn
Losing your hair is something which affects around half of all men, and can result in a lot of distress and worry. Many people who are suffering from baldness are constantly looking for different ways to resolve the problem so that they can once again enjoy having a full head of hair, and the confidence that goes with it. If you suffer from thinning hair and baldness, you may possibly have considered hair transplantation surgery, however this is a treatment that can prove to be extremely expensive as well as invasive. Here, we look at what exactly is involved in having a hair transplant.
What Exactly Is Hair Transplantation Surgery?
This kind of surgery involves taking hair from one area of the body and moving it to the head to cover bald patches. Although the first hair transplants were carried out as long ago as the 1950s, modern techniques have undergone a number of changes and there are now two methods which can be used. The first is a FUSS procedure (short for Follicular Unit Strip Surgery) and the second is called FUE (or Follicular Unit Extraction Surgery). The FUSS treatment involves having a strip of skin measuring between 6 and 10 inches removed from the head and then the scalp being sewed closed. The removed scalp is then split up into small grafts that have individual hairs on them. During the FUE method, the back of the scalp is shaved, the follicles removed, and grafts are prepared. For both methods, the next step is to have the grafts placed on the parts of the head where more hair is required. The entire procedure can take as long as 8 hours or as few as 4 depending on the site of the transplant.
How Well Will I Recover?
Hair transplantation is a form of surgery, so patients should expect their scalp to be painful for a few days following the procedure and may need to take strong painkillers. Bandages need to be worn for a few days and antibiotics may also need to be taken to prevent possible infections. Patients will also need to stay away from work for around 5 days. After a couple of weeks, patients will notice that the transplanted area of hair will fall out, and while this may be alarming, new growth will appear to cover that area within a couple of months, with most patients seeing brand new hair growth within 9 months of the treatment.
What Are The Downsides Of Hair Transplantation?
Hair transplant surgery is very expensive, and it also comes with several risks. Some patients experience infections or excessive bleeding, while others have scarring or unusual hair growth patterns. Some patients also find that their new hair follicles develop infections which need to be treated with antibiotics, and others find that they lose even more of their original hair at the site of implantation.
Should I Have A Hair Transplant?
Not everyone is a good candidate to have hair transplantation surgery. The candidates who are most likely to be successful are men who have had a steady pattern of hair loss over many years, but whose balding appears to have stabilized. They should also be in good health and be non-smokers in order for the procedure to be most effective.
If you decide that surgery is not the right option for you, there are other ways to disguise the problem of thinning hair that are much more cost-effective and considerably less invasive. A hair loss spray for men can coat the individual strands of hair to cover bald patches and to make the existing hair appear fuller, helping to restore the attractive appearance of your hair while boosting your self-confidence.
Problems Only Bald Men Will Understand
Baldness may seem like a minor problem, but for many sufferers it is a constant source of worry and stress. Yet with almost 50% of men suffering from hair loss of some kind, it is an incredibly common condition. If you are suffering from thinning hair, you will probably recognise the following problems which will only be understood by bald men.
- Anger at your family members – when you start going bald, you end up looking at the other men in your family and feeling angry about the nature of hereditary baldness. You’ll also be furious at any men in your family who still have hair.
- Difficulty describing yourself – whether you’re going on a blind date or just arranging to meet someone new it can be hard to know how to describe yourself. Should you make light of the situation and joke about your baldness or should you skirt around it and risk sounding ridiculous by saying that you have “a receding hairline”?
- People telling you that you look better than ever – although your friends are probably trying to make you feel good about yourself, you know really that it is usually a lie.
- Forgetting that you had hair – eventually a time will come when you have completely forgotten what it was like to have hair, but then at some point you’ll find an old photograph and you’ll feel furious all over again.
- Looking older than your years – losing your hair can make you appear to be older than you really are. If you just have a small bald spot or receding from the temples you might be mistaken for being just a few years older, but if you have just a few hairs left you could find that you are mistaken for being in an entirely different generation.
- Denying the truth – when your hair first starts to fall out you are bound to go through the denial phase. You’ll try to reassure yourself that it’s just excess body hair and that you’re way too young to have this problem.
- Growing facial hair – when men start going bald, one of the first things that they often feel the need to do is to grow a beard, as if to prove that they are still capable of growing hair – just not on their head.
- Having a cold or burnt head – most balding men expect their head to start to feel colder than when they had hair, however they are often taken aback by just how cold it can become. Conversely on hot days, there is also the risk of ending up with a burnt scalp.
If you have found that you’re starting to lose your hair, one useful temporary solution is to use an instant hair thickener. By covering bald patches and coating the hair to give the illusion of extra fullness your confidence can be restored and your hair will look great again.
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