Women's Rugby Star Defies Alopecia

While England’s women’s rugby union team put up a valiant fight against the victorious New Zealand side in Sunday’s World Cup final, none can deny the gap that was left by the absence of Heather Fisher, who was sidelined due to injury.

The feisty number 7 is a shining example of can-do spirit, playing with a passion and commitment that makes her an excellent role model for the sport. Fisher, who suffers from severe alopecia, is currently almost totally bald, but does not allow the stress of her condition to interfere with her game.

A former bobsleigh medal winner, 26-year-old Fisher is a university sports lecturer, and has won awards as both England Sevens Coaches’ Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year. She acknowledges that her hair loss is stress related, but refuses to dwell on it, instead keeping the focus firmly on the sport she loves.

Alopecia areata is a condition that manifests as sudden patchy hair loss, caused by hair follicles prematurely entering the resting phase of the hair cycle. It can affect men and women at any age. It is generally regarded as an autoimmune disorder, although it may be triggered by an external factor such as stress or injury. There may also be a genetic predisposition or hormonal trigger to the onset of hair loss due to alopecia.

Treatment for alopecia areata can be very successful, depending on the severity of the condition and the stage it has reached. Once it progresses to alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis, where all body hair is shed, the prognosis is less hopeful, so it is advisable to seek advice as soon as the problem is recognised.

The trichologists at the Belgravia Centre have a wealth of experience in diagnosing and addressing a wide range of hair loss conditions. Patches of hair loss can be treated with Belgravia’s Minoxidil 12.5% Azelaic Acid formulation, which we have found to be the most safe and effective treatment. You can see the kind of results we have achieved in treating alopecia areata here.

Our advisors will be happy to discuss an individual hair loss treatment programme with you, based around primary medications that are clinically proven to stabilise hair loss and promote regrowth, along with various hair growth boosters.

Call 020 7730 6666 to book a free consultation with one of our specialists, or send us a message with any enquiry you might have. Alternatively, if you can’t get to the London centre, complete the online diagnostic form for advice on a home-use treatment course that fits your needs, available worldwide.