When is it safe to start tanning again after undergoing a hair transplant? Anyone who has suffered from a sunburn on their scalp is all too familiar with how sensitive it can become. Therefore, within this article, we aim to address this query and tackle any associated questions you may have.
In addition to prolonging the recovery process, sunlight can even damage newly grafted hair follicles irreparably. Avoid sunbeds and sunbathing for the first four months after hair transplant surgery.
When Can I Tan After A Hair Transplant?
After a hair transplant, it is vitally important not to expose your scalp to UV light from tanning beds or direct sunlight.
There are a few Don’ts you must adhere to, such as UV rays, Swimming in a chlorinated pool or salty water, for example, the sea when visiting the beach where you would be exposed to two of the “don’t do” elements after hair transplant surgery.
UV light penetrates and does not just affect the very outer layer of the dermis or scalp.
A UV light burn of any kind penetrates the skin and effectively burns the skin-killing cells essential for the recovery of a hair transplant.
After two weeks, you may be able to wear a cap so you can spend short periods in sunlight but not a tanning bed.
Can I Go In Sunlight After A Hair Transplant?
Ultraviolet UV Light And Hair Follicles are not your best friend.
A little bit of ultraviolet light from a tanning centre seems to make everything feel better as we bronze up to look and feel great.
The truth is after a hair transplant, Ultraviolet rays are your enemy, and you will need to avoid UV rays as much as possible for some time, maybe as long as four months.
Exposing the newly transplanted hair follicles to ultraviolet rays is a bad idea. The follicle may be damaged beyond repair and will never grow due to the environment it has been exposed to.
If you have any recent tissue scarring on your body, you will know that it is susceptible to heat, sunlight, and ultraviolet rays.
The scarring can become inflamed and redden significantly, becoming sore to the touch.
The scarring from the puncture wounds on your scalp will react simultaneously, making your scalp inflamed and sensitive to touch.
When Can I Tan After A Hair Transplant?
As previously mentioned, tanning is potentially dangerous after hair plant surgery, and the newly implanted hair follicles are perilously delicate for the first six weeks.
You should avoid ultraviolet light from tanning beds for up to six weeks. This is to protect the hair follicles from damage.
Ultraviolet light from artificial tanning is precisely the same UV light waves that radiate from the sun, and the keyword is radiate or, in fact, radiation.
Exposing your scalp to tanning is never a good idea, and it can cause sickness similar to sunstroke if you overdo it.
When it comes to the skin, we are all different. Some of us tan perfectly and, after a few sessions, bronze up. While others pay tan and go all shades of pink and then peel.
Exposing your scalp to Ultraviolet light for at least six weeks is a big no.
When Can I Sleep On My Head After A Hair Transplant?
Understandably, after your hair transplant surgery, one of the first concerns that come to mind is how I will sleep?
The medical team has made you aware of how sensitive your hair follicles are and that it is relatively easy to cause damage and prevent the transplants from growing.
Sleep with your head in an elevated position using a good pillow to support your neck and head.
When we sleep naturally, we can experience hair fall and frequently find hairs in our beds. This is normal and is often caused by moving around while sleeping, creating friction on our hair.
After a hair transplant, friction is your enemy, and the longer you can keep from laying on your head after hair transplant surgery, the better.
Doctors understand you need to get quality sleep, and at least for the first few days, you keep your head as elevated as possible for two reasons.
The first reason is to protect the hair follicle, and the second is to reduce any inflammation from the wound sites.
Sleeping with your head elevated will help in both cases.
If you can manage to sleep with your head elevated for an extended period, you will be setting up the newly transplanted hairs for success and regrowth.
Care
Sleeping After Hair Transplant Surgery
Some doctors require you to wake every two hours to apply a spray to the scalp to prevent any kind of bacterial infection sets in.
Your bedroom is not a sterile environment, so this procedure is essential for achieving your goal of maximum hair regrowth.
Avoid sleeping tablets and no alcohol at this stage of postoperative care. Sleeping pills could make you longer and more deeply. You need to avoid any movement while sleeping within at least the first few days.
For some of you, this schedule of waking every two hours for the first three days after surgery may be a little gruelling so, make sure you have scheduled extended leave from work to allow yourself to recuperate.
Postoperative Care
After your surgery, you may feel relieved that the procedure is over with, and now you can move forward with new confidence. However, postoperative care is crucial to the success of the implant surgery and should be treated with diligence following the doctor’s instructions to the letter.
You will inevitably experience some pain and swelling after the surgery, and this is entirely normal.
The medical team should have supplied you with some sterile dressings and sterile pads to use with your pillows.
When you sleep, it is normal for the wounds to weep and maybe bleed slightly. Using the spray supplied will alleviate some of the discomforts you may feel. But don’t worry. The discomfort is easily manageable with pain killers and will subside as each day passes.
FAQ
Can You Wear A Hood After A Hair Transplant?
Your new hair implants are susceptible to any kind of disruption as we know not even Ultraviolet light is allowed for an extended time.
So taking care of your newly implanted hair follicles is of high importance, and the recommendation from your doctor should be adhered to if you want the best possible outcome.
You should avoid wearing a hat, a hood or any other covering that could disturb the newly implanted hair follicles.
You will, of course, be experiencing some pain after the anaesthetic has worn off due to the multiple puncture wounds near each other.
Your doctor will have prescribed pain medication to manage any discomfort you may feel.
So, wearing a hood could cause the hair follicle to become detached and aggravated, resulting in the hair follicle being sufficiently damaged that it has no chance of surviving.
Hair transplants are susceptible to damage until the hair has started to grow, and all caution must be put into practice to achieve the best results.
When Can I Return To Work?
This is a personal decision, but after ten days, the healing process is well on its way, and you should be fit enough to return to work.
It will depend on the type of john you do. If you work in an office, then go ahead and get back to your daily routine.
However, if your work requires you to wear a hard hat for safety reasons, you may need to consider extending your leave.
A hard hat could irritate the follicles through overheating and sweating profusely.
Check with your doctor if you have any concerns.
When Can I Smoke Again?
It is recommended that you quit smoking. If you must smoke, then a minimum of ten days is the least time to start smoking again after surgery.
Smoking could jeopardise the final results combined with all of the other health benefits you will get from stopping smoking.
When can I Exercise Again?
Take your time returning to vigorous exercise, working out increases your blood pressure and may cause bleeding and hinder the healing process.
It is recommended that you wait for at least ten days before resuming any kind of exercise.
At first, start with light exercises such as walking, and try to keep that during the evening to avoid sunlight and those harmful UV rays.
Closing Comments
Avoid tanning beds and tanning centres regardless of their technologies and claims. Ultraviolet light waves are damaging to newly implanted hair follicles.
You should wait until the transplant has wholly healed and give the hair follicles a chance to grow for you to gain a full head of hair.
