Hair, Skin, and Nails

Hair, Skin, Nails, and Breast Cancer

In this section, we'll discuss everything you need to know about the very visible parts of your body that are affected by cancer treatments—your hair, skin, and nails.

You can find out all about hair loss and why it happens and ways to deal with the loss in relating to your children and your partner. Find out when hair typically grows back. Learn ways to cope, including the use of wigs, scarves, turbans, hats, and makeup. Understand the importance of good skin care and what happens to your nails (and how to manage them) during and after treatment.

Hair Loss

No side effect of breast cancer treatment seems more disturbing than hair loss. For many women, it's worse than losing a breast, which can be hidden under baggy clothing. Hair loss (the medical term is alopecia) threatens your sense of self, your privacy, your sexuality, your personal image, and your vanity—because it's so visible.

Your hair is a big part of how you appear to others and the reflection you see every time you look in the mirror. It's part of the look that helps define you. When your hair goes, you have to start thinking about other ways to present yourself to the world. The cropped or bald look will take some getting used to. Fortunately, although it may seem to take an eternity, your hair WILL come back.

Yes, it's traumatic—but it's also most often temporary.