Post Chemotherapy: What are the ingredients I should not put on my head?

The period following chemotherapy is delicate, especially regarding hair care.

The scalp, often weakened by treatments, requires special attention. Therefore, it's crucial to know the ingredients to avoid in hair care products to prevent any irritation or worsening of scalp sensitivity.

Here's a list of the most common components to avoid:

Sulfates: Present in many shampoos, sulfates are powerful cleaning agents but can be too aggressive for a sensitive scalp. They can cause dryness and irritation.

Parabens: Used as preservatives, parabens can disrupt hormonal balance and should be avoided, especially after intense treatment like chemotherapy.

Strong Alcohols: Some types of alcohol in hair products can dry out the scalp. It's preferable to choose products containing fatty alcohols, which are milder. It's important to note that alcohol in a serum can have a positive impact. Indeed, it facilitates the transport of actives into the epidermis and thus offers better efficacy of certain treatments. This is the case for REDACTIV1 and REDACTIV2. Moreover, it also allows, depending on its volume of presence in the serums, to avoid the use of synthetic preservatives. The topic of alcohol should therefore be treated on a case-by-case basis.

Artificial Fragrances: Strongly scented products can irritate an already sensitive scalp. Furthermore, it has been shown that patients under chemotherapy have an exacerbated sense of smell. Therefore, even natural, fragrance can give a sense of aggression to patients. Opt for fragrance-free products or those with natural and mild fragrances.

Artificial Colorants: Like fragrances, artificial colorants can also irritate the scalp. Natural or organic products are often the best choices.

Silicones: Although they give a smooth and shiny appearance to hair, silicones can form a layer that suffocates the scalp, preventing the natural breathing of the skin.

Mineral Oils: Mineral oils can clog the pores of the scalp, thus preventing hair from breathing and naturally regenerating.

Thick Vegetable Oils: Like mineral oils, their vegetable counterparts hinder the gas exchanges of the epidermis and significantly alter the bulb. Some persistent legends, such as the supposed effectiveness of castor, coconut, olive, or argan oils, are common. They will be the subject of a specific article to demonstrate the negative consequences of their use.

Choosing suitable hair care products after chemotherapy is essential for the health and recovery of your scalp. It's always best to consult a dermatologist or hair care specialist for personalized advice tailored to your specific situation.

Photo by Jose Hernandez-Uribe on Unsplash