- Written by Charlie Buckland
- bbc news
image source, brittany hardaker
Brittany Hardacre, 26, says she won’t leave the house without a wig.
A woman with alopecia has welcomed the approval of a new hair loss drug on the NHS in Wales.
“This is amazing news,” said Brittany Hardaker, 26, who was diagnosed with alopecia when she was 12 and never leaves the house without wearing a wig.
“People are mean, staring and making comments. Needless to say, I jump at the chance to try this,” she said.
The daily tablets are approved by pharmaceutical body NICE for hair loss caused by autoimmune diseases.
The drug, called litrecitinib or litoflo, could help thousands of people with severe hair loss or alopecia.
The Welsh Government has confirmed that the drug will be available in Wales.
A spokesperson said: “Once litrecitinib is launched in the UK, under the terms of the New Therapies Fund, health boards will be required to routinely offer this treatment to eligible patients in Wales within 60 days.” .
Wales and England plan to offer it on the NHS for those who qualify, while Scotland said it was also currently considering offering it on the NHS.
Approved for people 12 years of age and older, this drug helps reduce inflammation and promote hair growth.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the hair follicles, causing hair loss.
image source, brittany hardaker
“We’ve waited long enough,” says Brittany Hardaker, who has tried everything to prevent hair loss since she was a teenager.
Brittany, from Abergele, Conwy, said that as a teenager she tried everything from steroid injections to UV therapy to reverse her hair loss, but nothing worked.
“I was a teenage girl and all my hair was falling out. I don’t want anyone to go through that,” she said.
“If I had a daughter, I wouldn’t want her to go through this. Without my hair, I’m not me. My hair is a part of me.”
“I believe it should be available to anyone, anywhere, who has alopecia,” she said. “We have waited long enough.
“Illness is often shunned and forgotten because it is not a physical illness, but it has a psychological impact on so many people.”
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) initially rejected the drug last year, but has now reversed its decision following a public consultation and has also received further information from manufacturer Pfizer, including price reductions.
Helen Knight, director of drug evaluation at NICE, said: “Our committee heard how severe alopecia areata can have a significant impact on people’s health and quality of life.
“We are pleased to recommend this innovative treatment.”
