Society for Pediatric Dermatology

News

Bids for the 21st World Congress of Dermatology
At the time of the 20th World Congress, the site of the next congress (to be held in the year 2007) will be selected. The International Committee of Dermatology( ICD) suggests that those countries interested in hosting the 21st World Congress of Dermatology let the ICD know that they are considering submitting a bid. This will allow the ICD to work with the potential bidders to make certain that all of the necessary information is submitted in time to send it to the individual ILDS Member Societies who will be voting on the decision. Please send any questions or information concerning this to the ILDS Administrative Office in Florida. An outline of host country responsibilities is available from that office.

LOCKS OF LOVE
Locks of Love is a not-for-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under the age of 18 with medical hair loss. These custom-fitted hair prosthetics are provided free of charge or on a sliding scale to children whose families meet the Locks of Love Board of Directors guidelines.

The organization, which began in 1997, has helped over 300 children since its first year of operation. Thousands of bundles of donated hair arrive from around the country as a result of national publicity Locks of Love received in newspapers, magazines and television programs.

The donations continue to pour in. Most donors mail a note and a photo with their bundle of hair. Children comprise over 80 percent of the donors, making this a charity where children have the opportunity to help other children.

Locks of Love provides its recipients with a custom, vacuum-fitted hairpiece made entirely from donated human hair. The vacuum fit is designed for children who have experienced a total loss of scalp hair and does not require the use of tape or glue.

Donated hair is evaluated for its usefulness according to the following guidelines:

It must be at least 10 inches in length

It must be bundled in a pony-tail or a braid

It must be free of hair damaged by chemical processing

The hair must be clean and dry, placed in a plastic bag,
and mailed in a padded envelope to:

Locks of Love
1640 S. Congress Ave., Ste. 104
Palm Springs, FL 33461

Monetary donations to Locks of Love are tax deductible. Hair is considered by the IRS to be a body part, and is therefore not tax-deductible.

For more information about Locks of Love, please call (561)-963-1677, 1-888-896?1588 for toll-free information or visit our web site at http://www.LocksofLove.org.
E-mail: info@LocksofLove.org

The SPD encourages doctors to post a notice for people who are cutting off their hair, that this is a place where it goes to a good use.