Our guide to treatment of Alopecia through the NHS
Your first port of call must be your own doctor to enable a proper diagnosis.
You will then probably be referred to a consultant who will prescribe treatment if he / she feels that the prognosis is positive for treatment. Unfortunately no guaranteed treatment for alopecia has been achieved and in many cases hair re-grows for no apparent reason. In view of this in many cases doctors can only prescribe hair replacement units.
You will be issued with a prescription and the doctor will have prescribed one of the following: -
- An acrylic hairpiece
- A full acrylic hairpiece
- A real hairpiece
- A full real hairpiece
- A custom-made hairpiece
- A full custom-made hairpiece.
It is important that you take this prescription to a supplier recommended by the hospital trust you are dealing with. This is extremely important as NHS contract suppliers are well vetted to meet the standard required by the trusts. You will be supplied with the correct type of unit for your condition. They will also make sure that the unit is fitting you properly and that you know how to look after it. Most important they will make you feel comfortable before you leave the shop.
Please do not panic about having to wear a hair replacement unit. I know you will all have seen an awful one and will be convinced that you are about to be supplied with a disgusting thing to wear on your head. Please remember that for every bad unit you see you will not have noticed the other three ladies wearing hair replacement units.
Many people are not good with their own hair and therefore are not good with the new style they have been provided with. Don’t worry you will be helped to choose a style you can manage.