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Medical Reviewer

Dr. Rachel Okonkwo, MSc Trichology

UK-registered trichologist · 15 years clinical scalp and hair practice

MSc Trichology, Middlesex University · TTS-registered · Member of The Trichological Society

About

The second signature on anything that affects your scalp

My job at BBI is narrow and specific. I review every article that touches consumer safety: formaldehyde and the keratin treatments that contain it, bleach and chemical risk, scalp diagnostics, pregnancy contraindications, allergy patterns, anything that brushes against the MHRA or the EU CPNP framework. If a piece carries my name as reviewer, it has been read by me line-by-line for medical and regulatory accuracy.

My clinical training is in trichology — the medical study of the scalp and hair. I did the MSc at Middlesex and I'm registered with the Trichological Society. Fifteen years of practice between an NHS-aligned hair-loss clinic and private trichology consultations in central London. I see patients three days a week and I review for BBI on the other two.

What I try to do here is hold a line between cosmetic claims and medical claims. A product can be wonderful at smoothing the cuticle and still be unsuitable for someone in early pregnancy. A treatment can be EU-compliant on the label and still warrant a patch test for anyone with a fragrance allergy. The articles I review aim to say what's safe, what's risky, and what to ask your GP or trichologist before booking.

If I think a piece overclaims, I send it back. If I'm not sure about a regulatory point, I check with the relevant body before signing. None of this makes the articles dull — it just keeps them honest.

Areas covered
Formaldehyde safety Scalp diagnostics Alopecia & hair loss Pregnancy contraindications Cosmetic ingredient allergy MHRA & EU compliance YMYL review Clinical chemical risk
Credentials

Articles authored or reviewed by Dr. Okonkwo

No articles published yet.