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# Alopecia - Whole blood and components

## Essential information

Includes

  Baldness, hair loss treatments.

Obligatory

  Must not donate if:

  1. Dutasteride (Avodart®) taken in the last 6 months.
  2. Finasteride (Propecia®, Proscar®) taken in the last 4 weeks.
  3. Taking systemic antifungal treatment or oral steroids.
  4. Related to malignancy or to its treatment.
Discretionary
  1. If the donor is on no treatment, accept.
  2. If the donor is only using topical treatment and is not attending specialist follow-up, accept.
  3. If the donor is only taking oral hydroxychloroquine, spironolactone or minoxidil, and is not under specialist follow-up, accept.
  4. If the donor has recovered from hair transplant surgery and no further treatment or follow-up is planned, accept.
  5. For all other cases, refer to a Designated Clinical Support Officer.

## Supporting information

See if relevant
  - Malignancy

  For systemic anti-fungal treatment:

  - Infection, chronic

  For hair transplants:

  - Surgery

  For injected or oral steroid treatment:

  - Steroid therapy
Additional information

  Hair loss can be related to several factors, including family history, hormone changes, scalp infections, medication and underlying medical disorders.

  Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition which can vary in severity, from patchy to complete hair loss. Individuals may require local treatment, including injected steroids, or systemic treatment with steroids and/or immunosuppressants.

  Dutasteride and finasteride can cause abnormal development of the sexual organs of a male baby within the womb. As it is not possible to know if an individual donation may be transfused to a pregnant woman whose baby may be at risk, donations cannot be taken from people who may have one of these drugs in their blood. They remain in the blood even after treatment has stopped.

  Given the range of causes and treatments, referral to a Designated Clinical Support Officer may be required to establish the donor's eligibility to donate blood.

Reason for change:
  This entry has been revised by adding a discretion for oral Spironolactone and Minoxidil therapy. Further guidance has been added with regard to immunosuppressive treatments that may be required.
Version details:

  WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 61 (22 February 2022)

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