Emotional Trauma of Childhood Hair Loss
Locks of Love Helps Financially Disadvantaged Children Fit In
Apr 10, 2009
Physical suffering to children diagnosed with a medical condition is difficult to witness. When accompanied by the trauma that a sudden change of appearance can cause it may be overwhelming to the child and everyone around who cares. A hair replacement wig could be the best emotional treatment for long term hair loss due to a medical condition, but natural looking hairpieces for children can be very expensive. Financially disadvantaged children can find help from Locks of Love, a non profit organization.
Causes of Childhood Medical Hair Loss
Many medical conditions can cause hair loss in children, and the change in appearance can affect a child’s self esteem and self image. The sight of a child who has lost his hair summons the idea that the child has suffered a reaction to cancer treatments.
Other conditions that can cause child hairloss with less chance of hair regrowth are alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis. The causes of alopecia hair loss are unknown, and there is no cure.
Before the age of five, most children are not that concerned about their appearance. The child is busy learning about his world and learning skills that give him independence. The unconditional love toddlers expect to receive leave little room to focus on appearance.
Once the child becomes more socialized with other children, however, any physical differences are quickly apparent. As a part of learning to empathize and be considerate of the views of others, they focus on how others see them. This is also the age when children tend to poke fun at those who they perceive are different.
How to Donate Hair to Locks of Love
The Locks of Love program is easy to participate in. Clean hair, secured in a pony tail or braid before it is cut, is placed in a plastic bag. Put the plastic bag into a padded envelope and mail to Locks of Love, 234 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33405. The hair must measure 10 inches tip to tip. Include layered hair in the ponytail or braid, as this shorter hair is sold to offset costs.
Colored hair and hair that has been permed can be used for alopecial wigs, but bleached hair cannot. Gray hair will be accepted, but will be sold.
With the escalating cost of heath care and the anxieties of the job market and other financial issues in this economic crisis, a good hair wig may be impossibility for a child whose parent is afraid of losing employment or facing home foreclosure. Locks of Love will give the hair prosthesis free or on a sliding fee, depending on need.
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