Types of visible difference
We group the main types of visible difference and disfigurements into broad categories and provide links to real stories and further information.
On this page
- Finding out about your visible difference
- Condition-specific organisations
- General health information
- Crisis and urgent
- Mental health
- Online support communities
- Self-help tools
- Professional bodies
- Young people and families' mental health and wellbeing
- Overseas-based support
- Advocacy, legal and social care organisations
Our advice and guidance pages are full of advice to help you live life with a visible difference. However, you may be looking for information specific to your particular visible difference or disfigurement.
There are plenty of organisations who support people living with different kinds of visible difference. They can help you understand your condition, mark or scar so you can manage your visible difference more easily, talk to others about it, prepare for medical appointments and get the right support and treatment for you. We have listed some of them in alphabetical order below. Click on the links to visit their websites.
We have also included links to other organisations you might find useful, on topics such as general health information and mental health as well overseas organisations.
Finding out about your visible difference
Being well-informed about your condition, mark or scar may help you to better understand, cope or manage your visible difference. Having knowledge can assist in making treatment decisions and feeling more in control of what is happening to you. It can also be useful when you are talking about your appearance to other people.
Sometimes medical jargon can be confusing and it can feel like a lot to take in when you talk to a health professional. Understanding the ins and outs of your visible difference and what may happen in the future can feel overwhelming, especially when discussing treatment and deciding what is right for you. You might also like to do some research to find out more about your condition and treatments. The NHS website has information about conditions and treatments and making the most of your appointment.
We have more information to help you learn about your visible difference on our site:
- Finding out about your child’s visible difference
- Finding out about your visible difference as a young person
- Types of visible difference
There are lots of specialist organisations who can help you learn more about your condition, mark or scar. They can also help you understand the medical jargon you may be struggling with and may also be able to help you find out about treatment options. We have listed some of these organisations below.
Condition-specific organisations
- Alopecia UK
- Behçet’s Syndrome (NHS)
- Bell’s Palsy Association
- Birthmark Support Group
- Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation
- British Acoustic Neuroma Association
- Childhood Eye Cancer Trust
- Children’s Burns Trust
- Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA)
- Congenital Melanocytic Naevus (Caring Matters Now)
- DEBRA (epidermolysis bullosa)
- Eczema Outreach Support (EOS)
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes Support
- Facial Palsy UK
- Flat Friends (mastectomy)
- Goldenhar Family Support
- Headlines Craniofacial Support
- Ichthyosis Support Group
- Katie Piper Foundation (burns and scars)
- The Lee Spark NF Foundation (necrotising fasciitis)
- Limbless Association
- Lupus UK
- Lymphoedema Support Network
- Microphthalmia, Anophthalmia and Coloboma Support (MACS)
- Microtia UK
- National Artificial Eye Service
- National Eczema Society
- Nerve Tumours UK (was the Neuro Foundation)
- Odstock Centre Burns Support Group (BUGS)
- Pituitary Foundation
- Psoriasis Association
- Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
- Scleroderma & Raynauds UK
- Scoliosis Association UK
- Scottish Burned Children’s Club
- Shingles Support Society
- Skin Care Cymru
- Skin Support
- Sturge Weber UK
- The Vitiligo Society
- The Wren Project (autoimmune diseases)
- Thyroid Eye Disease Charitable Trust
- XP Support Group (xeroderma pigmentosum)
- Youth Cancer Trust
General health information
Crisis and urgent
Mental health
- Anxiety UK
- Beat Eating Disorders
- Beating the Blues (online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) course)
- Bipolar UK
- CALM (services, groups and campaigns focusing on suicide prevention)
- Combat Stress for Veterans
- Cruse Bereavement Care
- Maytree (residential respite centre for people who are feeling suicidal; telephone support service)
- Mind (mental health charity)
- No Panic (anxiety support service)
- OCD Action
- Papyrus (suicide prevention service for young people)
- Rethink (groups and services for those with severe mental illness)
- SANE (services for those with mental illness)
- Self Injury Support
- SSAFA Armed Forces charity
- Together (national mental health charity)
Online support communities
Self-help tools
- Calm app (meditation and mindfulness app)
- FaceIT@Home (online self-guided tool for adults living with a visible difference)
- Headspace (meditation and mindfulness app)
- Living Life to the Full (free online courses covering low mood, stress and resilience)
- Mood Gym (interactive self-help book to help manage anxiety and depression)
- Reading Well (reading support)
Professional bodies
- British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy
- British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy
- British Psychological Society
- UK Council for Psychotherapy
Young people and families’ mental health and wellbeing
- ACE Education and Training (advice for parents and carers on state education in England)
- AFASIC (Voice for Life) (for parents and carers of children who have difficulties listening, talking to and understanding others)
- Anna Freud Centre for Children and Families (mental health support for children and families)
- Childline
- Contact (for families with disabled children)
- Family Lives (early intervention and crisis support for families)
- Kidscape (support for those affected by bullying)
- Meic (helpline service for children and young people up to the age of 25 in Wales)
- The Mix (support service for young people)
- Youth Access (advice and counselling network)
- Young Minds
Overseas-based support
- Stichting Eigen Gezicht, The Netherlands
- VAGA, Belgium