? radiation & brittle hair

[claire1]

Has anyone here that has had radiation have their hair become brittle and dry?  There is little reason that mine is just this as I'm always using the best in hair products and have never ever had this problem.It's always been soft & managable with no split ends and never dry or brittle .
Just wondering. I talk with the radiation oncologist next week on routine visit after GK so I'm hoping he has a rational, but if anyone can shed light on the subject, I would appreciate it.  It's also falling out in areas.
Thanks

[goinbatty]

I had CK.  Within a week of so, my scalp felt irritated on both sides of my head in that it itched quite a bit.  Thinking I would end up with dandruff (never did), I changed to Head and Shoulders but used extra conditioner.  Also my hair thinned all over (only I noticed this due to the increased amount of hair on my bathroom floor), but I have a feeling that was from stress or hormonal shifts.  At the time, I had a lot of other issues going on besides the AN.  Within the past few months, it's thickened back up again. 
Sandra

[mk]

Hello Claire,

it is interesting that you mention this. I have noticed that my hair is dry and unmanageable post GK and it is shedding a lot. But then, I have very thick hair and it has always been shedding. I wonder if it has more to do with stress and hormonal shifts like Sandra mentioned. I have heard on the Cyberknife forum about some cases where bold spots appeared post-CK.

Marianna

[claire1]

Hi

I also had itching scalp right after radiation. I started noticing that when I combed my hair, there was alot of hair coming out and when I went to the hairdressers she noticed that more than usual was coming out during the wash/rinse. On the bathro0om floor there's alot of hair strands as well. I'm not sure this is related to the radiation but it's curious that it would happen after treatment.  I've read about the bald spots and so far this is more all over than in one or two spots.
Thank You for the feedback.
Have a great day
Claire

[claire1]

Jim

Sorry I put this topic in the wrong section.  OOops

[goinbatty]

Meant to add that I try to go easy on the blow drying also and hold it further away from my head.  Not sure if that helped any but it couldn't hurt. 

[mema]

I did have a bald spot after radiation, but my hair grew back.  I always had thick hair.  I also noticed alot  of hair loss when brushing, or at the hairdresser.  Its been 2 1/2 years since my radiation.  My hair was slightly longer than shoulder length.  I wore it up in a barrett constantly because is was so frizzy.   I tried all type of products and nothing worked.  So I went to the hairdresser  just recently and she asked me if I had radiation because the top half of my hair(new growth)  was straight and the bottom half was squiggy.  So I got it cut and found that a flat iron is my new best friend.  Something else I've noticed is that when I color my hair it only lasts 2 washings.  Before radiation It would last 3 weeks.




mema

[claire1]

Mema
That's very interesting because my hair is so frizzzzzzy that I look like a baby chicken. I think I'll go to the hairdressers just to see what they say ,if there's anything I can use to at least stop the frizzzzzies. I have been using liquid glass and I've loved it but since radiation, it doesn't due anything at all except makes the frizzies look wet and frizzy.
Claire

[goinbatty]

For the frizz, I use Pantene smoothing creme.  There are other brands that work in a similar way like a leave in conditioner.  Seems to help.
Sandra