Is alopecia classed as a disability?

Alopecia in its own right is not classed as a disability in legal or employment terms. For something to qualify as a disability, it means it has to have a substantial and adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day to day activities. Alopecia itself does not limit abilities but the mental health impact can.

Any consequential mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression may fall into the disability definition but alopecia alone does not.

Latest

Alopecia UK Attends 13th World Congress for Hair Research

Our Research & Liaison Manager Niels has returned from the biennial hair research event.
Could you be one of our Kingswood volunteers this Summer?

We are recruiting adults to volunteer at our fourth family residential weekend at Kingswood Activity Centre, South Yorkshire, this August.
Lisa Parkhurst's fundraising page for Alopecia UK

I have recently been diagnosed with alopecia areata and want to raise awareness and money for this wonderful charity that has given me advice and confidence in these early days.
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

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.