Can rain cause harm to transplanted hair after 13 days post op? What does the hair look like after getting infected? (photo)

Question

I was outside and it suddenly started raining.i was wet from head to toe. Is it any reason to be alarmed and get worried about hair getting infected or harmed?

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

Rain cannot cause harm to your hair just as water cannot cause harm to transplant hair.  Maybe unless it's acid rain.

Matt Tahsini, MD · Answer

Thank you for the post. Being 13 days post procedure you are in the safe zone and the grafts should not be affected, and no cause for alarm. Hope this helps.

Jesse E. Smith, MD, FACS · Answer

After 13 days, rain or water will not cause issues with your grafts,  graft sights, or donor areas.  Some hairs can get small areas of surrounding redness within the first three weeks.  This is quite normal, but if they become swollen, painful, and raised, please see your Hair Transplant Specialist.

Robert Jones, MD, FISHRS · Answer

After 13 days, there is no risk of doing damage to the donor or recipients area by getting it wet in the rain. We have patients soak their heads the day following surgery, and the risk of infection is almost zero.

Greg Williams, FRCS (Plast) · Answer

An infection in the recipient area may occur as early as 2-3 days after hair transplant surgery. Infection of the hairs is called folliculitis and infection of the skin is called cellulitis. Initially the area is likely to get sore and red but may also develop pustules (bumps containing pus). You may start to feel unwell and if left untreated, the infection could spread to the blood causing septicaemia.If you are worried about the possibility of an infection you should contact your hair transplant surgeon immediately. If you cannot get in touch with them then you should seek the advice of another doctor. The earlier you treat an infection, the easier it is to get rid of it.Rain cannot cause harm to transplanted grafts after 13 days.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

Rain will not harm your grafts after a week or more. Washing or wetting the hair is fine. Within 3 days of surgery, you can resume full activities, heavy exercises if you wish. The recipient area requires daily washes as well to keep the recipient area free of crusts. I generally recommend the use of a sponge and supply my patient with a surgical sponge to fill with soapy water and press on the recipient area daily. By repeating this daily, all crusts can be washed off without any fear of losing grafts. IF any crust are present, use a Q tip and dip it into soapy water, and roll it on the crusts and that will lift them off without dislodging them, but never rub them, just roll the Q tip on the recipient crust. I like to see no evidence of any crusting in the recipient area and the crusts from the donor area gone in 7-10 days with daily washing.

Can rain cause harm to transplanted hair after 13 days post op? What does the hair look like after getting infected? (photo)

Answers (6)

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