Hairy Face After Chemo!

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Nat1000
Nat1000 Member Posts: 40
in Breast Cancer #1
I found out that I had breast cancer one year ago to the date. I had 8mo. of chemotherapy, (all my hair fell out)then a mastectomy, then radiation everyday for 6weeks. My question is, can anybody tell me how to take care of my hairy face? My hair on my head is finally growing back, and with it is hair on my FACE! I look just like a werewolf, no exaggeration! It's growing from my sideburns up over my cheeks, and under my chin on my neck. If it weren't so horrible, it'd be comical. Has anybody here had this problem? I can't find an answer anyplace on the internet. Should I shave it, or wax it? I just don't know what to do. Thank you in advance, for any ideas you might have for me.

Nat

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  • mariam_11_09
    mariam_11_09 Member Posts: 691
    #2
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    Hey Nat, I am not sure what
    Hey Nat, I am not sure what kind of hair you had however I did have some very long soft white hair growing down as side burns and on my chin, as well as my forehead during the latter stages of chemo. This hair could only really be seen when the light shone on it at a certain angle and could be felt. I was rather alarmed by how long it was. Admittedly I was not very enthused by the 'man hair' on my face given I had no eyebrows or lashes or hair on my head.

    I have a little hair removing device and I used this on my face. I had to do it several times until a few weeks after chemo ended. I have not had to do it since. Chemo ended 10 months ago for me.

    I am convinced that this was the steroids. However I could be wrong. Not sure if you have the same thing or not.
  • PrettyBald49
    PrettyBald49 Member Posts: 21
    #3
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    What you are seeing is
    What you are seeing is similar to a new born baby with what we call downy hair. I experienced the same thing once my hair started to grow back. I used clippers and shaved mine off. It was everywhere. I did not wax because my skin is much more sensitive since chemo.
  • Lighthouse_7
    Lighthouse_7 Member Posts: 1,566 Member
    #4
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    PrettyBald49 said:

    What you are seeing is
    What you are seeing is similar to a new born baby with what we call downy hair. I experienced the same thing once my hair started to grow back. I used clippers and shaved mine off. It was everywhere. I did not wax because my skin is much more sensitive since chemo.

    Hi Nat,
    I had the same
    Hi Nat,
    I had the same thing. Like someone said, reminds you of the fuzz on a new baby.
    I didn't do anything to it and it was just gone one day.
    One of the side effects of chemo.
    Hugs,
    Wanda
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #5
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    Nat
    I have the same problem and I'm wondering what to do with it. 3 months ago my onc said it would eventually fall out. I still notice it every day when I look in the mirror. It could be that no one else does. I'm afraid to shave it.
    {{hugs}} Char
  • NJMom10
    NJMom10 Member Posts: 176
    #6
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    cahjah75 said:

    Nat
    I have the same problem and I'm wondering what to do with it. 3 months ago my onc said it would eventually fall out. I still notice it every day when I look in the mirror. It could be that no one else does. I'm afraid to shave it.
    {{hugs}} Char

    Same problem here but my daughter says she can't see it!
    I have the same problem, not quite werewolf-like but there is downy fuzz all over my face and chin. I did shave it a little because I was kind of mortified! But then my daughter said it wasn't noticeable so I stopped. I think it will eventually go away.
  • Annette 11
    Annette 11 Member Posts: 380
    #7
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    Me Too
    Oh yeah, I have the downy fur. Not like a werewolf but soft and furry. I can only see it if I look into the magnifing mirror, so I cut it off with scissors. But I think it is getting alot less 7 months post chemo.
    what are we to do...one of the lovely side effects of chemo.
    Hugs,
    Annette
  • Nat1000
    Nat1000 Member Posts: 40
    #8
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    Annette 11 said:

    Me Too
    Oh yeah, I have the downy fur. Not like a werewolf but soft and furry. I can only see it if I look into the magnifing mirror, so I cut it off with scissors. But I think it is getting alot less 7 months post chemo.
    what are we to do...one of the lovely side effects of chemo.
    Hugs,
    Annette

    hairy face
    Hi Everybody,

    Thank you for writing me about this problem. With so many of us having it, I wonder why no one has come up with the perfect solution. Yes mine is long on my face(like a werewolf) and I asked my oncologist what to do, but he acted like he never saw it before. It's been about 5mo. since my last chemo treatment. Thanks for letting me know that I'm not alone and that I wasn't bitten by a wolf in my sleep.

    Nat
  • mom62
    mom62 Member Posts: 604 Member
    #9
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    New Baby
    The facial hair is like the silky hair on a new born in the womb. It will fall out and be replaced with your normal facial hair, it just takes a little while.

    Terry
  • mom62
    mom62 Member Posts: 604 Member
    #10
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    New Baby
    The facial hair is like the silky hair on a new born in the womb. It will fall out and be replaced with your normal facial hair, it just takes a little while.

    Terry
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #11
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    DoubleWhammy recommends
    DoubleWhammy recommends Surgicream...from another post...

    "It's like Nair, but for me it works better and is more gentle. You can get it at most beauty supply places (like Sally's). I've been using it for years. Good grief, being a woman brings so many grooming issues!"
  • Ticky
    Ticky Member Posts: 117
    #12
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    Gabe N Abby Mom said:

    DoubleWhammy recommends
    DoubleWhammy recommends Surgicream...from another post...

    "It's like Nair, but for me it works better and is more gentle. You can get it at most beauty supply places (like Sally's). I've been using it for years. Good grief, being a woman brings so many grooming issues!"

    Hair
    I have never had this problem but I know someone who does. She shaves her hair off.

    Good luck!

    Hugs,

    Ticky

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