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Information on Wigs and Hairpieces
If you have alopecia areata you are entitled to a prescription for a wig or a hairpiece. You will be able to get a very good wig from the National Health Service. This information sheet sets out the present arrangements for NHS Scotland.
Your hospital consultant will give you a prescription which you should take to the hospital’s Medical Appliance Officer. The hospital will have a contract with a number of hair studios and you will be given names and addresses of these but you have a right to choose any hair studio named on the contract. You must pay a prescription charge.
There are two types of wigs available and you may find what you are offered on prescription depends on the policy of your hospital Trust.
The two types of wig are acrylic and real hair wigs.
The prescription charges for each wig is £4.00 from April 2009
Acrylic Wigs
The majority of people are prescribed an acrylic wig. There are four types of acrylic wig. It may help you to know how the staff at the hair studios will describe them. All of these wigs mentioned here are available on the NHS.
• In a wig with a “fully wefted base” fibre is sewn onto a strip of material. The wig or hairpiece is then made up using the wefted fibres.
• A wig described as having a ”monotop” will also be made from wefted fibres but its top will be constructed from fine monofilament material. This will make the top much lighter.
• A “hand tied” acrylic wig is made from fibre but the hair is hand knotted into a base. The base is made of fine net called a mesh. It is usually more comfortable to wear than the other types of acrylic wigs because it allows heat to escape and it reacts better in windy conditions.
You are entitled to two acrylic wigs on prescription per year. However, your entitlement is dependent on the advice of the consultant and he or she may prescribe more than two wigs per year if he or she feels that this is necessary.
Real Hair Wigs
There are many types of real hair wigs available on the NHS contract. They are made from taking a mould of the person’s scalp. Real hair wigs are usually more suitable for people who have no hair at all as they tend to slip if there is hair underneath. As these wigs are made to fit an individual they are called “customised”. It is also possible to get an “off the peg” real hair wig.
The consultant will decide how many real hair wigs that you should have during a period of time. Again it will be dependent on the policy of your hospital Trust.
• A “full hair wig” is made using real hair hand-
• A wig made of real hair but with a base made of an acrylic monofilament material will be described by the fitter as a “full monofilament”. This type of wig held onto the scalp with tape. It is particularly suitable for those people with an active lifestyle because they can take part in most activities without worrying about it coming off. It can be handwashed at home but it will need to have hair added to it occasionally as it will moult.
Fitting and Maintenance
Whatever the type of wig you choose, it should fit your head snugly. It should be altered if it is not sitting comfortably on your scalp.
You should also be offered some sort of secure fastening if necessary, for instance, comb clips if you have some hair or some toupee tape on waxed silk if there is an area of your scalp that is quite bald.
Each supplier will explain how to look after your wig.
Accessories
There are also products available to help conceal bald patches such as hairpieces and a product called Couvre which are suitable for those people who do not need or want a full wig.
Wigs are except from Value Added Tax (VAT) when you buy privately and any extras are VAT free. If the extras are bought separately however ( for example, shampoo, conditioner or toupee tape) you must pay VAT.
Information updates on prescription charges
The Health Department of the Scottish Executive is responsible for issuing updates on prescription charges in Scotland.
The address is:
The Directorate of Service Policy and Planning
Health Planning and Quality Division
St Andrew’s House
Regent Road
Edinburgh EH1 3DG
Telephone: 0131 244 2434