Medical Oncologist
Body image & emotional wellbeing
Body Image When Your — Skin, Nails and Hair Change
Changes to your appearance during treatment can feel like a daily loss — one that faces you in the mirror every morning. That distress is real, it is recognised, and there is support available to you.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed August 2026
- Your grief is valid — Distress about how your body looks during treatment is a recognised clinical concern, not vanity.
- Changes vary by treatment — Hair, skin and nails are each affected differently depending on which treatment you are receiving.
- Practical steps restore some control — There are concrete things you can do now that help you feel more like yourself.
- Specialist support is part of cancer care — Psycho-oncology support exists for exactly this. You do not need to cope with it alone.
17+
Cancer Specialists
on Panel
on Panel
96.9%
Breast Cancer
Survival Rate*
Survival Rate*
15,000+
Patients
Treated
Treated
4.8★
Google Rating
(800+ reviews)
(800+ reviews)
Feeling grief, sadness or shock about the way your body looks during treatment is a normal, valid response — not vanity. Hair loss, skin changes and nail changes affect your sense of self, and that feeling deserves to be named and supported. There are concrete steps that help, and your team can refer you to specialist support.
Why does losing your hair or changing your skin feel so hard?
Your appearance is part of how you know yourself and how the people around you know you. When it changes quickly — and without your choice — it is natural to feel grief, shock, or anger.
Hair loss, dry or darkened skin, and fragile nails make it hard to look in the mirror and see the person you recognise. Many people find this one of the hardest parts of treatment — not because it matters more than the cancer, but because it faces you every single day.
You do not need to feel grateful that it is 'only' your hair or your skin. You are allowed to grieve it, alongside everything else you are carrying.
What kinds of changes happen to hair, skin and nails during treatment?
Chemotherapy affects rapidly dividing cells, and hair follicle cells divide quickly. This is why hair loss — including eyelashes, eyebrows and body hair — is common with certain regimens. Not all chemotherapy causes hair loss, and your team will tell you what to expect from your specific treatment.
Skin can become very dry, more sensitive to sunlight, or develop a rash. This is particularly common with targeted therapies and some immunotherapy regimens. Nails may become brittle, discoloured, or lift away from the nail bed.
Radiation therapy causes skin redness and soreness specifically in the treated area, not across your whole body. Most of these changes are temporary, and your team can tell you what usually happens once treatment ends.
Practical steps that help when your appearance changes during treatment
Ask your team what to expect before treatment starts
Ask specifically which changes are likely and roughly when they will begin. Knowing in advance makes it easier to prepare — practically and emotionally — rather than being caught off guard.
Plan ahead for hair loss if it applies to you
If hair loss is expected, consider looking at wigs, head coverings or caps before it begins. This gives you options and some sense of control. Many people find it easier to cut their hair shorter first, so the change feels more gradual.
Use gentle, fragrance-free products on your skin
Ask your nurse or pharmacist which products are safe alongside your specific treatment. Fragrance-free moisturisers, gentle soap substitutes and sun protection can all help manage dryness and discomfort.
Decide what you want to share and with whom
You do not owe anyone an explanation about how you look. Decide in advance what you are comfortable saying to colleagues, neighbours or extended family. 'I'm going through treatment and some things have changed' is a complete answer.
Hold on to small rituals that feel like you
A piece of jewellery you always wear, a particular way of dressing, a morning routine — small things that connect you to who you are before treatment can matter a great deal during it.
Tell your team if it is affecting your daily life
Distress about your appearance is a clinical concern, not a minor complaint. Tell your doctor or nurse if it is affecting your sleep, your willingness to go out, or your relationships. They can help.
Meet the Specialists
17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.
Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Interventional Radiologist
Dr. Mohammed Imran
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
Want a specific doctor for your case? Mention them when booking.
Book Free ConsultationBook an appointment with our specialist
Share your name and number — we'll call you back within 30 minutes to schedule your consultation.
You do not have to work this out alone
A 45-minute consultation with a specialist who treats this every week.
When should you ask for more emotional support?
Tell your doctor or nurse if distress about your appearance is affecting your sleep, your appetite, your willingness to leave the house, or your relationships with people close to you. These are signs that you need support beyond practical tips.
A psycho-oncologist is a specialist who helps people with the emotional side of cancer — including body image, identity, anxiety and fear. Asking for a referral is not a sign that you are not coping. It is using the support your treatment team is there to provide.
Patient support groups — where people going through similar changes meet, in person or online — can also help. Talking to someone who has lived through the same experience feels different from talking to family members who have not.
Things you can do this week
- Ask your oncology nurse which skincare products are safe to use during your specific treatment.
- Tell one person you trust how you are actually feeling — not just how you are managing.
- If hair loss is expected, look at head covering options before it begins.
- Write down what is upsetting you most about the changes to your body, so you can describe it clearly to your team.
- Ask your doctor or nurse whether a referral to a psycho-oncologist or counsellor is available at your centre.
- Give yourself permission to grieve what has changed, without a deadline for feeling better.
Did you know?
Body image distress is one of the most commonly under-reported concerns during cancer treatment — not because it is rare, but because many people assume it is too minor to raise with their care team.
Psychosocial guidelines from ASCO recognise body image as a core quality-of-life concern that warrants the same clinical attention as pain or fatigue. Raising it with your team is not taking up their time; it is exactly what they are there for.
Source: ASCO Clinical Practice Guidelines: Screening, Assessment and Care of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Adults with Cancer
Explore 113 more Family, Fertility, Diet & Emotional Wellbeing topics
Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing
- Body Image When Your Skin, Nails and Hair Change
- Cancer Support Groups in India: How to Find One
- Depression During Long-Term Cancer Treatment
- Handling Unhelpful Advice and Toxic Positivity
- Living With Cancer as a Chronic Disease: A New Identity
- Sleep, Anxiety and Night-Time Fear During Treatment
- Talking to Your Children About Your Cancer Diagnosis
- Telling Friends, Relatives and Neighbours: How Much to Share
- The Fear That the Drug Will Stop Working: How to Live With It
- When Should You See a Psycho-Oncologist?
Caregiver Enablement
- Building a Care Roster When One Person Can't Do It All
- Caregiver Burnout: Recognising It Before It Breaks You
- Caregiver Red Flag Chart: When to Take Them to Hospital
- Caring for an Elderly Parent on Oral Cancer Tablets
- Cooking for Someone on Targeted Therapy: A Kitchen Guide
- Coordinating Care From Abroad: A Guide for NRI Families
- Financial Management for Caregivers: Bills, Claims and Records
- How to Get a Second Opinion Without Offending Your Doctor
- How to Track Side Effects: A Simple Daily Diary System
- Managing Medicines, Refills and Pharmacy Runs
- Questions Every Caregiver Should Ask at the Oncology Visit
- Supporting Someone Emotionally Without Saying the Wrong Thing
- The Complete Caregiver's Guide to Targeted Therapy
- What to Do When the Patient Refuses to Take Their Medicine
Diet, Nutrition & Complementary Therapy
- Ayurveda Alongside Targeted Therapy: An Honest Assessment
- Do Immunity Boosters Help During Cancer Treatment?
- Does Sugar Feed Cancer? Separating Myth From Fact
- Eating With Mouth Sores: Foods That Don't Hurt
- Eating to Control High Blood Sugar From Cancer Drugs
- Food Safety and Hygiene for Cancer Patients at Home
- Foods to Avoid on Targeted Therapy
- How Much Protein Does a Cancer Patient Actually Need?
- Hydration: How Much Water and What Counts
- Is Cow's Milk, Soya or Non-Veg Food Safe During Cancer Treatment?
- Keto and Intermittent Fasting During Cancer Treatment: Is It Safe?
- Managing Weight Loss and Muscle Wasting
- What Should You Eat While on Targeted Therapy? A Practical Indian Diet Guide
- What to Eat When You Have Diarrhoea From Cancer Tablets
- Yoga and Pranayama During Cancer Treatment
Fertility, Pregnancy & Sexual Health
- Accidental Pregnancy While on Targeted Therapy: What Now?
- Can You Breastfeed While on Targeted Therapy?
- Cancer Diagnosed During Pregnancy: Can Targeted Therapy Be Used?
- Contraception on Targeted Therapy: Which Methods Are Safe?
- Early Menopause Caused by Cancer Treatment
- Erectile Dysfunction and Sexual Changes in Men on Treatment
- Fertility After Long-Term Targeted Therapy: What the Data Shows
- Fertility Preservation Before Starting Treatment: Your Options and Timeline
- How Long Must You Wait Before Trying to Conceive?
- Sperm Banking Before Cancer Treatment: A Practical Guide
- Talking to Your Partner About Sex During Cancer Treatment
- Vaginal Dryness, Pain and Low Libido During Treatment
- Will Targeted Therapy Affect My Fertility?
Genetic Predisposition & Family Risk
- BRCA Testing in India: Cost, Process and Where to Get It Done
- Cascade Testing: Getting Your Family Members Tested
- Coping With the Anxiety of a Positive Genetic Test
- Does a BRCA Mutation Mean You Will Definitely Get Cancer?
- Family History of Cancer: Should You Get Genetic Testing?
- Genetic Counselling: What Actually Happens in the Session
- Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer and the CDH1 Gene
- How to Tell Your Children and Siblings About a Genetic Risk
- I'm BRCA Positive but Have No Cancer: What Happens Now?
- IVF and Preimplantation Testing to Avoid Passing On a Mutation
- Li-Fraumeni Syndrome: Living With a TP53 Mutation
- Lynch Syndrome: Cancers, Screening and Treatment Implications
- MEN2, VHL and Other Endocrine Cancer Syndromes
- MUTYH, PALB2, ATM and CHEK2: Moderate-Risk Genes Explained
- Male BRCA Carriers: The Risks Nobody Talks About
- PARP Inhibitors: How a Genetic Mutation Becomes a Treatment Advantage
- Risk-Reducing Mastectomy: How to Decide
- Risk-Reducing Ovary and Tube Removal: Timing and Consequences
- Somatic Mutation Found on NGS: Could It Be Inherited?
- Surveillance Instead of Surgery: What Screening Looks Like
- Which Family Histories Actually Suggest a Hereditary Cancer Syndrome?
- Will a Genetic Test Result Affect Your Insurance in India?
Myths, Misinformation & Verification
- Are Generic Cancer Drugs Fake or Weaker?
- Can Cancer Be Cured Without Any Modern Medicine?
- Cannabis and CBD Oil for Cancer: What the Evidence Actually Says
- Does Soursop, Apricot Seed or Alkaline Water Cure Cancer?
- Does a Biopsy Spread Cancer?
- How to Fact-Check Cancer Information You Read Online or From AI
- Miracle Cancer Cures on WhatsApp and YouTube: How to Spot a Fake
- Myth: Cancer Treatment Is Worse Than the Disease
- Myth: If the Scan Is Clear You Can Stop the Tablets
- Myth: Positive Thinking Cures Cancer
- Myth: Sugar, Milk or Non-Veg Food Feeds Cancer
- Myth: Targeted Therapy Has No Side Effects
- Myth: Targeted Therapy Is Only for the Rich
Palliative Care & End of Life
- Breathlessness and Comfort Care in Advanced Cancer
- Hospice and Home Palliative Care Services in India
- How to Have a Goals-of-Care Conversation With Your Doctor
- Pain Control at Home: What's Possible and What to Ask For
- Palliative Care Is Not Giving Up: Clearing the Biggest Myth
- Should You Ask How Long You Have Left?
- Supporting a Family Member in Their Last Months
- What 'Best Supportive Care' Actually Means
- When Is It Right to Stop Cancer Treatment?
Special Populations & Comorbidities
- Cancer Treatment After an Organ Transplant
- Cancer Treatment for Patients on Dialysis
- Cancer Treatment in Patients With Past or Active Tuberculosis
- Growth, Puberty and School During Childhood Cancer Treatment
- Hepatitis B and C Reactivation Risk During Cancer Treatment
- Managing Diabetes While on Targeted Therapy
- Obesity, Underweight and Dosing: Does Body Size Change the Dose?
- Paediatric Targeted Therapy: What Parents Need to Know
- Targeted Therapy With Autoimmune Disease
- Targeted Therapy With Chronic Kidney Disease
- Targeted Therapy With Existing Heart Disease
- Targeted Therapy With Liver Disease or Cirrhosis
- Targeted Therapy for Adolescents and Young Adults
- Targeted Therapy for Patients With Mental Illness or Dementia
- Targeted Therapy in HIV-Positive Patients
- Targeted Therapy in Patients Over 75: Is It Worth It?
- Treating Patients With Poor Performance Status
Next step
Still not sure what applies to you?
Send your reports across and a senior medical oncologist will go through what they mean, what is known, and what the options actually are.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Will my hair grow back after chemotherapy?
For most people, yes — hair typically begins to grow back within a few months of finishing chemotherapy. The texture and sometimes the colour may be different at first, and this often settles over time. Your oncologist can tell you what to expect based on your specific treatment, because not all regimens cause the same degree of hair loss, and some targeted therapies affect hair differently than standard chemotherapy.
Is it normal to feel more upset about my appearance than about the cancer itself?
Yes, and many people feel this way. It does not mean you are not taking your illness seriously. Your appearance is something you encounter every hour of every day — the cancer itself is invisible. Visible change can feel more constant and harder to escape than the diagnosis, and that is an entirely understandable response. If you feel embarrassed to mention it to your team for that reason, please do mention it anyway. It is a recognised and common experience.
Are there wigs or head coverings available through my cancer centre?
Some cancer centres and NGOs in India offer wig banks or subsidised head coverings for patients going through chemotherapy. Ask your nurse or social worker what is available at your specific centre. If a wig is not accessible, there is a wide range of cotton and silk head scarves, turbans and caps that many patients find comfortable and practical. Your team can point you toward local resources.
How do I talk to my children or family about how I look?
Simple, honest language usually works best. For children, something like 'My medicine is making my hair fall out, and it will grow back when treatment ends' gives them a fact without unnecessary fear. For adults in the family, it helps to tell them once, clearly, what has changed and what you need from them — some people want acknowledgement, others prefer the subject left alone. Letting the people around you know your preference takes the guesswork out of it for them.
What is a psycho-oncologist and how do I see one?
A psycho-oncologist is a mental health specialist trained to work specifically with cancer patients. They help with the emotional and psychological effects of cancer and its treatment — including body image, anxiety, depression and fear of recurrence. To see one, ask your treating oncologist or nurse for a referral. In centres where a full psycho-oncology service is not available, a counsellor with oncology experience is often an alternative. You do not need to be in crisis to ask for this kind of support.