Birmingham & West Midlands

"Welcome to the Birmingham & West Midlands Support Group. We meet every two months usually in Birmingham City Centre as this is the most central location for members of the group but accessible by public transport. Our members suffer from a variety of alopecia, some are new sufferers, and some have had the condition quite some time. We can honestly say that after attending a meeting for the first time we always hear positive feedback about how good and useful it has been to meet other people that actually understand the condition."

What happens at a Group?

We meet up to talk, discuss ideas and support each other. We think this helps our members deal with their condition. We look forward to welcoming anyone that would like to attend our meetings

Group dates:

Date:	Time:	Location:	Extra Meeting Details:
Saturday 13th April 2024	11.00am-1.00pm	St Martin in the Bullring, Edgbaston Street, Birmingham, B5 5BB
Saturday 8th June 2024	11.00am-1.00pm	St Martin in the Bullring, Edgbaston Street, Birmingham, B5 5BB
Saturday 10th August 2024	11.00am-1.00pm	St Martin in the Bullring, Edgbaston Street, Birmingham, B5 5BB
Saturday 5th October 2024	11.00am-1.00pm	St Martin in the Bullring, Edgbaston Street, Birmingham, B5 5BB
Saturday 7th December 2024	11.00am-1.00pm	St Martin in the Bullring, Edgbaston Street, Birmingham, B5 5BB

Please contact the group lead prior to attending a meeting so they can plan accordingly.

Who can attend:

This group is designed for any adult living with or affected by alopecia from the ages of 15 and above.

Please note that those age 15-17 must be accompanied by someone age 18 or over.
For those with children under the age of 14 please see our Birmingham Children Support Group.

Contact details:

Marie Swift
Email: [email protected]
Marie is happy to answer any questions about the group and provide a listening ear at a time arranged by email. Please be aware that any questions Marie is unable to answer will be sent on to staff at Alopecia UK.The group leads are not professional counsellors but people who have personal experiences with alopecia and, along with members of the support group can help to give insight and advice on living and dealing with alopecia on a day to day basis. Please note that our support group leads are volunteers and do this in their spare time, as such please allow up to a week for replies to emails.

Marie's link to alopecia:

Marie's link with alopecia:
Marie has had alopecia since she was 24. It started as alopecia areata and her patches varied in size over a number of years. Later on it developed into alopecia totalis. For 16 years she chose to wear a wig to hide her condition. She made the decision to show all the world on her 40th birthday and has since spent every day wigless, only wearing a hat to protect her head from the sun or the cold and spreading awareness of alopecia. Although running the Birmingham group, Marie is actually from Coventry and travels into Birmingham to attend the meetings.

If you have any feedback on this support group please consider leaving it here.

Alternatively if you have any Suggestions, Comments, Compliments or Complaints for the charity please do so here.

Latest

Izzy’s fundraising page for Alopecia UK

I have been following this charity through my own alopecia journey. I think what they do is truly remarkable and I would love to be a part of that however small
Mollys Skydive For Alopecia UK

I am fundraising for Alopecia UK because its a charity close to my heart. When I was 15/16 I started losing my hair and I was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata. I was lucky enough to receive medication which allowed my hair to grow back however, not everyone is this lucky. Therefore, I am doing this skydive to raise money so that the charity can help more people living with alopecia.
What 'Marathon Month' Means to Alopecia UK

April is the start of the marathon season. In this blog, we explain what that means to us and encourage our community to look beyond London..
Rory Green's fundraising page for Alopecia UK

I am raising money for Alopecia UK, a Charity close to my heart, after losing my Step Sister Alicia Pylypczuk in 2020.

Common Treatments for Alopecia Areata

Information about common treatments for Alopecia Areata
Alopecia and Covid-19 (New Coronavirus)

A statement from Alopecia UK regarding COVID-19 and vaccines.
Alopecia Areata

Alopecia Areata is thought to be an autoimmune condition that causes hair to fall out, usually in usually in round or oval patches on the scalp or other places on the body that grow hair, such as the beard, eyebrows or eyelashes. Types of Alopecia Areata include Patchy Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis, Alopecia Universalis, Alopecia Barbae, Diffuse Alopecia Areata and Alopecia Ophiasis.
Responding to the events from the 2022 Oscars

We respond to the events from the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony and the actions of Will Smith
A Guide to Wigs

Links to our downloaded PDF wig guide, and information on the NHS England wig report.
Androgenetic Alopecia (Pattern Hair Loss)

Male pattern hair loss and female pattern hair loss. Hairs falls out in a well-defined pattern in men, whereas in women, the hair usually becomes thinner all over the head rather than receding from the temples.
Lichen Planopilaris (Scarring Alopecia)

Primary Scarring Alopecias (also known as cicatricial alopecias or scarring hair loss) are a group of conditions that destroy the hair follicle, replace it with scar tissue, and cause permanent hair loss. In Lichen Planopilaris, patches of scalp appear, most commonly on the sides, front and lower back of the scalp.
Can I dye my hair when I have alopecia?
Telogen Effluvium

With Telogen Effluvium more hairs than usual move into the telogen (resting) phase and shed, so you may notice more hair falling out than usual. Telogen Effluvium is often caused by a physical or psychological trigger and often resolves itself spontaneously.
Hair Loss After Illness, including Covid-19

We asked Alopecia UK Research Committee member Professor Andrew Messenger to answer some questions about hair loss after illness.