The Way to Prevent A Hair Transplant Infection
Hair transplant infection is very possible after any surgical procedure. However, due to modern surgical techniques and sterilization, the infections can be minimized. If the patient is able to follow the instructions given out by the surgeon, the likelihood of infections occurring will be minimized.
What are the dangers of hair transplant infections?
Hair transplant infections can be very serious as they can impact your health and also the results of the surgery. The infections can also destroy your overall restored hairline appearance such that you may be forced to undertake another hair transplant surgery to correct the issue. In some cases, the infection can lead to unattractive and excessive scarring. In short, an infection to the scalp can lead to hair loss or promote poor hair regrowth.
Since an infection is a possibility, you may fear that it can attack you thus delaying the healing process. However, you should not worry since there some ways which can assist you to avoid infections as you wait for the transplanted hair to grow. Below are some of the ways on how you can avoid the risk of getting an infection after receiving a hair transplant.
i) Avoid touching your scalp
The scalp is covered with micro-wounds which can offer an entry for germs, therefore you should avoid touching it frequently. This is because our hands are one of the parts of the body which are highly contaminated since we use them in touching many items that may be having disease-causing microorganisms. After getting a hair transplant you should abstain from touching the scalp. If it’s a must for you to touch it you must sanitize your hands before doing it.
ii) Spray a saline solution
Try to massage gently your scalp for around 30 minutes. You can do this at least twice a day. The saline solution can remove excess skin and dirt from the scalp without causing any damages. This solution also creates a hostile environment, thus bacteria cannot grow on your scalp. Thus protecting your scalp.
iii) Do not consume alcohol or smoke
Taking alcohol and smoking will make you take long in healing your wounds. It can also increase the possibility of you getting an infection. This is because the consumption of alcohol will lower your immunity.
iv) Antibiotic ointments
To enable you to heal faster and avoid infection you can take medicines prescribed by professional doctors. Such medicines may include the ones which contain Aquaphor, bacitracin and Polysporin. All you have to do is to follow the instructions of the doctor.
v) Avoid strenuous exercises
During the first 1 to 2 weeks after a hair transplant procedure, you should avoid sports, exercise and other physical activities. This is because any activity which can make you sweat profusely can increase the risk of getting infections. Normally, the bacteria in sweet can make you get infections.
vi) Cleanliness
The scalp area where the hair was transplanted must be kept clean. You can use shampoo in cleaning your hair daily for you to remove any scabs which may be formed after the transplant. If you wish to wash your hair normally, you can do that probably after 2 or 3 weeks. After washing your hair you can dry it using a clean towel. You must ensure that your hats, linens, towels and other items which may come into contact with your scalp are always kept clean. If possible you can avoid wearing your hat until you recover.
What can you do if you suffer from infections after a hair transplant?
In case you notice that some signs such as burning sensation, discomfort, excessive bleeding, swelling and redness on your scalp, then you should contact your dermatologist. Any kind of infection on the scalp should be taken seriously. If it’s not something that you can minimize or handle on your own then a dermatologist is the best professional who can control the infection.
In summary, getting infections after a hair transplant is very rare since the scalp is properly vascularized. The minimal serious infections which may occur are associated with preexisting medical conditions, excessive crust formation and poor hygiene. However, if you follow the above measure you can easily control and prevent any infection after receiving a hair transplant.