Practical tips to care for your skin

If your hair falls out, it’s important to take care of the skin on your head and other places where you had hair. It may be more sensitive than skin elsewhere and can feel very tender.

• If you are having radiotherapy, you should avoid using any deodorants, soaps, perfumes and lotions on your skin other than those advised by the radiographers. If you develop a skin reaction, such as soreness or a change in skin colour, let the radiotherapy staff know as soon as possible. They will advise you on the best way to manage it.

• Shampoo your scalp every day – even if you have lost all your hair. Scalp tissue still contains oil and sweat glands. This is especially important if you are wearing a wig. Use a perfumefree product.

• Use a gentle unperfumed moisturiser on your scalp if it gets dry, flaky or itchy.

• Use pillowcases made of 100% natural fibres, such as cotton or linen, as man-made fibres like nylon and polyester can irritate the scalp.

• Cover your head with a hat to make sure your skin doesn’t get burnt on sunny days. If you don’t want to cover your head, use a suncream with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 on your scalp whenever you go out.

• Cover your head when it is cold to protect your scalp and to prevent heat loss. 40 Coping with hair loss ‘One thing I didn’t like was getting up in the middle of the night and catching a sight of myself in the mirror, because it catches you unawares. In the morning I would always apply some eyebrows at least straight away.’ Adele

• Avoid using perfumed deodorants if you have lost hair under your arms. Baby powder or deodorants made from natural mineral crystals can be used instead – these are available from chemists or health shops.

• If you have chosen to wear a wig, leave it off whenever possible to let your scalp breathe.