People should not allow their hair loss condition to define them or affect their self-esteem especially with the existence of new solutions in the field of hair restoration,Africa Regional CEO of Vinci Hair Clinic,Mr Ayo Otubanjo,said
Speaking with journalists during the the relaunch of their Abuja clinic on Monday,he said “Experiencing hair loss should not affect the quality of your life.Your hair loss should not define you. You’re more than your hair loss and some of the treatments now available can help you get back to who you really are,”
The expert explained that the annual global sensitization is to spread awareness about alopecia and other hair loss conditions which many people are too embarrassed to talk about.
According to him,l,the broad goals of the international hair loss awareness month is to educate people living with such conditions about its causes, address common misconceptions, discuss the impact of stigmas, share advances in treatment options and to most importantly, show those living with it that they’re not alone.
“This awareness is becoming more important now because all over the world, we are beginning to witness hair loss being reported in much younger people. Gone are the days when this was only associated with old people.
“Seeing one’s hairline receding or falling off can affect one’s emotional health, self-esteem and self-confidence. You start becoming more self-conscious of how people see you. However, because it is mostly dealt with as a private matter, not many people try to find out if there are medical solutions available. This is compounded by the stigmatization of people with such conditions.
“Our campaign, tagged #IamNotMyHairLoss is aimed at encouraging people to say, ‘I am more than what I am currently going through, I could look a lot better and I am resolving to look a lot better’. This determination should then lead to the next course of action which is to look for available solutions,” he added.
Mr. Otubanjo listed some of the common types of hair loss such as alopecia areata, androgenic alopecia (hereditary hair loss), and traction alopecia.
At the event, famous Nollywood actor, Yakubu Muhammed who was also present at the event highlighted that hair loss can have emotional and psychological effects on those living with it.
“Generally, many people are affected psychologically when they start experiencing a receding hairline, start going bald or having any other issue with their hair. You may find such people becoming more comfortable out of sight and this can significantly affect their ability to live the best of their lives.
“In our field, some celebrities are afraid to lose movie roles and endorsements. They are also deeply concerned about stigmatization on social media if they come out with their hair loss condition.
” I think it is about time more celebrities embrace and endorse the hair restoration advocacy because this will go a long way in reducing the stigma and encourage more people to talk about their conditions which is a necessary first step in seeking help,” Yakubu said.
Speaking further, Mr. Otubanjo said, “We offer a full range of treatment options depending on what type of hair loss condition you have and its stage. This ranges from medication usually for people who are at early stages of alopecia right through to some therapies such as platelet rich plasma therapy, mesotherapy, corticosteroid injections and also the cosmetic procedure, micro-scalp pigmentation, which is particularly popular with men who are experiencing extensive baldness.
“We always encourage people to come in for our free consultations so that together, we can identify the right option for them.”
Mr. Otubanjo also encouraged the media, especially social media, to help spread the awareness necessary to stop the stigmatization of people with alopecia.
“There is the need for the media to stop misconceptions and educate people and make them feel at ease and aware that alopecia can be cured,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Vinci Hair Clinic is a global hair restoration brand comprising 40 clinics in 14 countries across 6 continents. Its clinics in Africa are presently in Lagos, Abuja and Accra.
