Is hair loss getting worse?

Is Hair Loss Becoming a more Significant Problem for Many Men and Woman in the United Kingdom?

This March, the number of staff remaining in the NHS is the highest it has been in over 10 years. This might suggest greater staff satisfaction, stronger training and development programme’s, the possibility for career progression and improved pension schemes. Yet it is important to bear in mind the challenges that patients can face to secure treatment. Many have complained about serious backlogs, long waiting lists and the structure of the NHS. And some conditions such as hair loss end up being put on the back burner. This is because they are viewed as a cosmetic concern as opposed to a severe medical condition.

Hair loss affects roughly 6.5 million men and 8 million women in the UK. The most common cause of hair loss is androgenic alopecia which affects 85% of men by the age of 50 and 40% of women by the age of 50. It is common practice in Scotland to seek medical advice through accessing the NHS. Hair loss can be caused by multiple factors such as; hormonal changes, iron deficiencies, weight loss, autoimmune diseases and chemotherapy.

There are a few pharmaceutical options for over the counter drugs to combat hair loss. Minoxidil is a popular choice as it aims to regrow hair or slow the rate of hair loss and comes in liquid, foam or shampoo form. It takes around six to twelve months for a patient to notice any significant improvements. However,  common side effect from minoxidil is scalp irritation. Platelet rich plasma is another common alternative. This treatment involves taking a small amount of the patient's blood, separating out the growth factors and bioactive proteins in the blood and injecting the platelet rich plasma into the scalp to encourage hair growth. This non-surgical treatment is effective in 70 to 90 per cent of cases. Some side effects of platelet rich plasma injections can be light headedness, swelling and minor discomfort.

Despite the popularity of pharmaceutical remedies, there is still a very real psychological impact for those suffering from hair loss. Many patients can experience anger, anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, suicidal tendencies and decreased confidence. The NHS website offers support and suggestions for patients coping with hair loss. Joining a support group, accepting and talking about it and counselling are all advised to help patients cope with the psychological impact of hair loss.

Jennifer Milligan noticed her hair loss when simply taking her morning shower. She commented  “I looked down in the shower and the plug hole was clogged. My hair fell out from the crown to the fringe within a fortnight.  It was very sudden and very distressing.”

She highlighted how she felt the medical system in Scotland had failed her because of her medical history. “I believe my hair loss is a result of being prescribed stattins as a preventative measure to stop heart attacks. However a known side effect is that 1 in 100 people on stattins have significant hair loss. I have still not been given a formal diagnosis but when I stopped taking the stations, I lost no more hair. I cannot pressure the drug company or the doctor or the dermatology department as I have not been seen. Stattins are already highly controversial and this additional complication has not been highlighted in the newspapers or press”.

Jennifer Milligan decided to seek alternative treatments in Morocco to combat her hair loss. She was keen to try the natural remedy of argan oil. She visited numerous argan oil co-operatives within central Morocco, purchasing such products. Argan oil is able to reduce breakage and split ends and can contribute towards the properties of a healthy scalp and is rich in fatty oils, omega 6 and vitamin E. However it has been argued that it can only prevent further hair loss and is not completely curative.

Despite this drawback, there are societal benefits to the Moroccan argan oil co-operatives. Spearheaded by a new government initiative, marginalized women from low socio-economic backgrounds are employed. This gives them a reliable income as well as financial autonomy. They are able to provide for themselves and their families. They are improving their societal status and challenging centuries old traditional gender roles. Such products from these argan oil co-operatives have been sold to large-scale international businesses like L’Oréal, Aveda and even the Body Shop in the United Kingdom.

 The scheme has other environmental advantages. It focuses on preserving  argan oil trees by protecting them from harvesting, deforestation and climate change. Another ecological benefit is that the argan oil trees are able to halt the  desertification of this arid region. They can stabilize the soil by reaching deep pockets if ground water.

Jennifer Milligan was disappointed when she returned to the UK and found that the argan oil products she had bought had not completely combated her hair loss however she was pleased to have supported a worthy cause. Shona Tootil, a recently qualified pharmacist weighed in with her professional opinion.

I asked her if she would recommend argan oil products to patients as a way of combating hair loss”. Her response was “There are medical treatments available. Often, it would be treated privately which can be pricy. They would have to weigh the pros and cons of treating it medically and side effects. If they are looking for a more natural solution I do recommend Argan oil products for general hair health.”  I followed up by inquiring if hair loss was a frequent concern for many of her patients”. She answered “I wouldn’t say frequent, it definitely cones up in my pharmacy. I do every so often have a few consultations. It is a rarer condition.  This means it can be more isolating for patients as well as embarrassing.”

Tootil mentioned how she would not dissuade customers from taking over the counter medications for hair loss whilst combining this with natural remedies. She additionally mentioned how some of her patients have bought wigs to hide their hair loss.

Jennifer Milligan found this to be an alternative path for her hair loss however she noted a few disadvantages. “I feel that it can be extremely expensive. The NHS will subsidize a wig but the waiting lists are long. I have had to buy my own. You can’t test the sizing or colour in advance if you purchase wigs online therefore I have ordered a few that turned out to be unwearable. When my hair first started falling out I was having it colored professionally and so I stopped doing that to protect the quality of my remaining hair and now my hair has become grey which contracts with my blonde wigs”.

In conclusion, it is clear that there are many hair loss treatments for patients suffering from this condition. Aside from the NHS, many decide to follow private routes or seek out natural remedies. Yet this does not take away from the pain and isolation they feel. Medical advancements in the hair loss industry have come a long way but still seek additional funding and resources.