Any tender scalp tips?

Public Archive
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FEC 75 cycle 1 day 4
A lovely lady from our March thread is experiencing a really tender scalp now 3rd week into chemo. I would really appreciate hearing what helped you cope please as I’ll probably be going through it in a few weeks.
thank you!

Update: Thanks so much for your responses. Here’s a summary of tips so far:

  1. Use clippers to take hair off (dont shave to minimise risk of infection) when scalp feels tender as many found it easier to cope with than hair going everywhere
  2. Use aloe vera gel for relief (put the tube in the fridge so it will feel nice and cool)
  3. Silk pillowcase or cap to minimise friction with scalp
  4. Wear buff or some sort of headgear especially when outdoors to keep hair from blowing about and making scalp feel even more tender.
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EC - T - Cycle 2 Day 1
Hi -I know 'm I not having the T, but my hair started falling out on Day 14 of first cycle and I shaved it all off on Day 19 as it wasn’t going to last much longer - and the hair EVERYWHERE was driving me crazy!! The tenderness is bearable, ‘bizarre’ was how I was describing it. It was more prominent when you moved the hair - and is the first sign that something is happening. It was a prickling sensation, also erhaps similiar to the feeling after someone has pulled your hair very hard - memories of childhood fights with bro! I wouldn’t worry about it - unless of course you have very different hair SEs. Good luck! xx

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Hi Nipinuk
If your scalp is tender, its a sign that the hair is going to fall out soon. Once mine got to that stage, I had it clippered off and it felt so much better! Its not recommended to shave it because of risk of infection, although I know several ladies who did shave with no problems.
Good luck! xx

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Hi - Apologies, I meant to say Im not having’ F’ not T … and also by ‘shaved’ I did acutally mean used electric clippers that men use…! Agree with Patchit re ‘wet shaving’ and possible infection. Sorry for any confusion! xx

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Hi Ladies
I had chemo last year and my head was also very tender just before my hair started to fall out,like Patchit I also clippered mine off about 18/20 days after first chemo when it started to become tender and fall out and it was a relief at once it felt much better and also helped me cope with the eventuall loss of all the hair but I can understand not everyone can do it didnt think I would to be honest , good luck and love to you all going through this

xx

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Hello,
I had chemo and lost my hair even though I wore ice cap for half of it. It was shoulder length so I didn have it cut shorter, also I found a silk pillowcase helped when your scalp is sensitive, in fact I am still using that now my hair is slowly growing back. Good luck it will soon be over. xx

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Hello,
I had chemo and lost my hair even though I wore ice cap for half of it. It was shoulder length so I didn have it cut shorter, also I found a silk pillowcase helped when your scalp is sensitive, in fact I am still using that now my hair is slowly growing back. Good luck it will soon be over. xx

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I used to have very thick, long hair. When my scalp started getting sensitive I found wearing a buff really helped. It kept the hair follicles from being caught by the wind when outdoors, so stopped it hurting as much.

I have a wig, but rarely wear it. Mostly, I just stick with buffs. (Mine are Beechfield morfs and were about £3)