Dealing with Afro Hair Loss
Anecdotally there seems to be an increase in hair loss in recent years, with increasingly younger people being affected for a range of reasons including diet and lifestyle.
Hair loss can be temporary or permanent and there is an important link between hair and identity, especially within the Black community and people with severe hair loss are more likely to experience psychological distress. It can also be difficult to work out the exact type or combination of hair loss pattern.
Attitudes and responses to hair loss can also vary amongst sufferers, some will be devastated, and others will stoically accept it. Either way, it’s important to know that there is a lot of support available to help you get through both the emotional and physical aspects of hair loss.
THE PROCESS OF DEALING WITH HAIR LOSS
Work out is whether you are seeing more hair shedding than usual. You may have noticed more hair than usual on the pillow, on your clothes, in the plughole after washing. It is usual to use between 50-100 hairs per day, there is usually more hair shedding in the autumn, but it fluctuates through the year.
If you can get someone to look at your scalp get them to see whether there are areas of thin hair or no hair. If you are not able to do this, take pictures of the top view, side view and back view of your head with your hair parted in different places.
Ask yourself whether there have been any significant changes to your usual habits, such as nutrition, medication, stress or hair care practices.
Have a look at photos taken within the last year or so to see whether there is a significant difference in the thickness of your hair.
Consider whether there have been other changes in your health such as heavy periods, joint pains or tiredness.
If you have considered the above, make a note and make a routine appointment to see your GP or doctor.
However, it is worth bearing in mind that their main role is to recognize and treat illnesses, and they only have limited time so because people with hair loss tend to be healthy, GPs may not always consider this to be a priority that they need to deal with. However, if you are experiencing hair loss and other symptoms such as tiredness, joint pains, hair growth or hair loss in areas other than your scalp a GP may request routine screening blood tests checking for anaemia, kidney function and thyroid function. Hair loss can sometimes signify an underlying disease process such as lupus or nutritional deficiency so it’s important to get it checked out.
It is also worth asking your GP to check your ferritin levels as low levels can be associated with hair thinning. In the UK, people with darker skin tones are also more likely to be deficient in vitamin D because of the absence of sunshine, so it is worth checking that this is included in the blood test as there has been a relationship noted between low levels of vitamin D and some hair loss conditions.
The GP is also in an ideal position to take samples from the scalp if a condition such as scalp ringworm is suspected.
There are some forms of hair loss that need a prompt referral to a dermatologist (a medically qualified skin specialist) who can arrange more in depth tests and is able to prescribe medications for some permanent hair loss conditions. Not all GPs will necessarily be aware of the need to promptly refer to a dermatologist for some hair loss conditions that are potentially permanent, especially with Afro hair so it’s important to be persistent or seek the services of Trichologist who may be able to offer more advice,
RESOURCES FOR UNDERSTANDING AND TACKLING HAIR LOSS
People experiencing hair loss will have a number of different needs. These will vary by whether they just want to understand the cause of hair loss, want advice about which products to use, or are looking for a procedure to help restore hair loss.
The Pharmacy - If the cause of hair loss is due to age related balding, there are products available to purchase specifically for this including shampoos, lotions and supplements.
The GP - Your GP will be able to provide you with hair loss diagnosis and sign post further services. If they are unable to do this, they should refer you to a Dermatologist. It is important to get a diagnosis. If you have one, a useful resource is the British Association of Dermatologists. There are several useful patient information leaflets.
Trichology Clinics: Trichologists are trained to assess and diagnose hair loss conditions. Some will offer treatments such as medicated shampoos and conditioners:
The British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery - Search Affiliate Trichologist Member
NHS Consultant Dermatologists: Dermatology is primarily about the management of skin disorders, but dermatologists will have undergone training in managing hair disorders. Some will have developed an additional interest in hair and will run hair loss clinics. Waiting times in general are usually longer and this has been exacerbated by the COVID 19 pandemic. There is a list of dermatologists who specialize in hair loss on the website of the British Hair and Nail Society.
Private Consultant Dermatologists: Many dermatologists working in the NHS have clinics in the private sector. If you are unsure about whether they are a qualified dermatologist, you can check on the General Medical Council Register to see if they are listed. The bonus of seeing a private dermatologist is you get rapid access to advice and treatment which can be crucial for the more permanent forms of hair loss. In general, they can also offer treatments such as Platelet Rich Plasma treatment which has been shown to be beneficial in some forms of hair loss. This can be used alongside other interventions such as medications.
Alopecia UK- a charity supporting people with hair loss and they run support groups, and also have a service directory where you can find where to get wigs, hair pieces and cosmetic hair loss camouflage . They also offer advice for men.
Article edited by Nateisha Scott.