Can You Dye Your Hair While Getting Radiotherapy Treatment?

Can You Dye Your Hair While Undergoing Radiotherapy Treatment?

Having to undergo cancer treatment like radiotherapy can be an extremely difficult and emotional time. Many patients understandably want to maintain a sense of normalcy and control by continuing routines like styling their hair. This leads to a common question - is it safe to dye your hair while receiving radiotherapy?

The answer depends on a few key factors. Keep reading for an in-depth look at how radiotherapy works, what types of side effects it causes, and most importantly, the risks and precautions around dying hair during treatment.

Understanding How Radiotherapy Treats Cancer

First, a quick overview of what radiotherapy is and how it destroys cancerous cells. Radiotherapy uses high-energy radiation beams targeted at the tumor or area with cancer cells. The radiation physically destroys the cells' DNA, causing irreparable damage that leads to cell death.

A major downside is that healthy cells surrounding the treatment area can get damaged as well. This causes the difficult side effects many patients experience. However, radiation therapy has become much more precise in recent years, helping reduce this collateral impact.

Common Side Effects of Radiotherapy

While radiotherapy aims to preserve as many healthy cells as possible, some common side effects include:

• Fatigue
• Skin irritation, redness, itching
• Hair loss in treatment area
• Scalp tenderness if head/brain is treated
• Nausea
• Sore mouth and throat if treatments are in those regions

Most acute side effects begin to subside around 2-4 weeks after finishing treatment. But some skin changes and increased cancer risk can persist long-term.

Does Radiotherapy Make Hair Fall Out?

One of the most emotionally difficult potential side effects is hair loss. But whether radiotherapy causes hair to fall out depends on two key factors:

• Treatment location - Only hair follicles in the direct treatment field are damaged. Treatments targeting the head, face or neck can cause hair loss. Other areas like the chest rarely impact hair.
• Radiation dose - Higher total doses increase the risk. Doses above 50 Gy often lead to complete hair loss in the treatment area.

However, even low doses may still trigger some thinning or increased fragility. It’s important to remember hair loss is a common temporary effect of radiation focused on head or neck tumors. Hair usually starts to regrow 3-6 months after ending treatment.

When Does Hair Loss Start With Radiotherapy?

For those who do experience hair loss from radiotherapy, it usually begins about 2-3 weeks into treatment. The hair loss is gradual, allowing time to prepare emotionally and consider options like buzzing your hair short.

The good news is that hair follicles are some of the fastest growing cells in the body. The radiation damages the follicles only temporarily. New hair growth starts soon after treatments end once follicles repair.

Risks of Dyeing Hair During Radiotherapy

This leads into the key question around whether you can safely dye your hair during radiotherapy. There are a few potential risks to keep in mind:

• Skin irritation - Radiation can make skin very sensitive. Chemical hair dyes may burn or cause rashes.
• Infection - Breaks in the skin from irritation increase infection risk.
• Allergic reaction - Skin may become hypersensitive and react severely to dye chemicals.
• Hair damage - Hair is already fragile from radiation and may break easily when dyed.

These risks come from both the effects of radiation weakening skin and hair as well as the chemical ingredients in dye products. Bleaches, ammonia, peroxides, and paraphenylenediamine can all provoke skin reactions even in people not undergoing radiotherapy.

Can You Dye Your Hair After Radiotherapy?

While dyeing during is not recommended, what about after finishing radiotherapy treatment? Once you’ve completed the full course of prescribed radiation sessions, it’s safer to begin dying hair again. Here are some tips for post-radiation therapy hair dyeing:

• Wait 2-4 weeks after the last session before coloring for skin to heal.
• Do a patch test to check for allergies to dye chemicals before full application.
• Select semi-permanent or demi-permanent dyes that are gentler on hair and skin.
• If scalp is sensitive, try highlights or lowlights to limit dye to small sections.
• Use a deep conditioning hair mask before and after coloring to nourish hair.

It’s still possible to have some skin irritation or reaction even months after finishing treatment as the area remains sensitized. But proceeding cautiously with a gentler dye and patch test can make it possible to resume coloring hair eventually.

Can You Highlight or Bleach Hair During Radiotherapy?

What about options like highlights, bleaching, or other partial dye techniques? These should also be avoided during a course of radiotherapy sessions. Reasons to hold off include:

• Bleach is extra harsh on already fragile hair.
• Foils can irritate tender scalp skin.
• Chemical reactions may occur with radiation.
• Skin is more prone to burns, rashes, and allergic reactions.

Any type of hair dye that sits on the skin and requires chemical processing carries risk of irritation and adverse reactions. For safest results, it’s healthiest to stay away from any permanent or semi-permanent coloring during radiation.

Safe Alternatives for Coloring Hair During Radiotherapy

While permanent dyes aren’t recommended during treatment, are there any safer options if you wish to temporarily alter your hair color? Here are some safer alternatives to consider:

• Temporary colored sprays - Wash in and out easily without harsh chemicals.
• Colored gels and mousses - Also temporary and minimize chemical exposure.
• Wigs or extensions - Add pops of color without dyeing actual hair.
• Headscarves and wraps - Bright patterns or colors liven up hair safely.
• Hats - Try colorful beanies, caps, or turbans.

The key is choosing options that don’t require any chemical application or processing directly to your hair or scalp. Focus on fun additions like accessories, scarves, or temporary coloring sprays that can wash out easily. Then after completing treatment, you can safely return to permanent dyes.

Caring for Hair and Scalp During Radiotherapy

While you should avoid dyes, here are some tips for keeping hair and scalp as healthy as possible during radiotherapy:

• Use a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner.
• Shampoo less often, only 2-3 times per week.
• Avoid excessive heat from blow drying, curling, or straightening irons.
• Try an overnight deep conditioning hair mask.
• Gently massage scalp to stimulate circulation.
• Protect hair from sun damage with hats, scarves or gentle styling products.

Being extra gentle with hair and avoiding damage from chemicals, heat tools, or over-washing will give your locks the best chance of staying healthy through treatment.

The Bottom Line - Coloring Hair and Radiotherapy Don't Mix

While it's understandable to want to maintain normal hair routines through cancer treatment, the recommendation is to avoid permanent dyes while actively undergoing radiotherapy. The risks of skin irritation, infection, and other

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.