How to Cope With Radiation Treatment Hair Loss

To date, there is no sure way to prevent hair loss caused by radiation treatment or chemotherapy. However, the nice thing about hair is that it will grow back and the best way to think about hair loss during radiation treatment is just that, it will grow back. Your doctor will most likely reassure you that it is far better to concentrate on your healing rather than how you look. This article will offer some tips on how to deal with hair loss during radiation treatment.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Radiation treatment usually affects only the specific area being treated, so if treatment is to an area of your head, you will most likely lose most or all of your hair. Very high doses of radiation may cause permanent hair loss and you may want to discuss this with your doctor and/or the radiation technologist. It helps to know what you can expect beforehand.

2. 
    

   Plan to pamper the skin in the treatment area. It will be tender and most likely turn red and appear sunburned or tanned. Therefore, it is helpful to cover your head with a scarf or soft hat. A wig might just irritate the skin of your scalp further. You can expect your hair growth to return to a full head of hair within six months to a year after your treatment has been completed. In some cases, your hair may temporarily be a different shade and texture.

3. To pamper your scalp, use a satin pillowcase, a soft brush and wash your remaining hair only as often as necessary. Avoid strong shampoos with detergents and strong fragrances which can irritate and dry out your scalp. There may be some natural shampoos and rinses you can purchase and your hairdresser would be the person to ask about these and similar hair loss prevention and scalp treatments.

4. 
    

   If you're a female, consider shaving your head entirely and wearing attractive jewelry, which will focus attention away from your scalp.
   If you're a male, why not grow a mustache or beard?
   
   Finally, you will need to protect your scalp from too much exposure to the sun by wearing some type of head covering or wearing sunscreen during the hot summer months. During the cold winter months, plan to cover your head with a cotton or wool cap for warmth.
   
   And remember....hair, or no hair, your family and close friends support you!

Resources

• My other eHow articles

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on 10/7/2009 Thank you for this timely and informative article. My oldest and dearest girlfriend is at this time going thru radiation therapy and went thru multiple chemo treatments recently for stage 3 lung cancer. She has always had a gorgeous head full of thick long black hair and is fretting desperately what will she do when it begins to fall out, as yet it hasn't but they have stopped the chemo for now. She recently found another cancer treatment specialist who will begin doing assays on her tumors and plans to begin chemo again with a mix designed especially for her.. so she will probably lose her hair this time around... we can only hope so.. they say if the chemo isn't working you don't lose your frocks... so learning some things I can do for her to make the transition easier is a Godsend. Thanks again I'm now going to go looks for some satin pillowcases and scarfs for her pretty head.