Chemotherapy Hair Loss
Chemotherapy hair loss is an unfortunate reality that many cancer patients have to face. Chemotherapy drugs are powerful medications that attack rapidly growing cancer cells. Unfortunately, these drugs also attack other rapidly growing cells in your body – including those in your hair roots.
If you start to lose your hair, you may find that it becomes thinner or falls out entirely. It may be sudden or gradual. Hair loss can occur on all parts of the body – you may lose the hair on your head, some or all of your eyelashes and eyebrows, and body hair (including pubic, chest and underarm hair). You may also notice that your scalp feels tender.
However the good news is that many people find that their hair starts to grow back before their chemotherapy treatment is finished or very soon afterwards. In essence most of the time hair loss from chemotherapy is temporary.
You can expect to regrow a full head of hair six months to a year after your treatment ends, though your hair may temporarily be a different shade or texture.
If you are about to go through chemotherapy you should plan to manage hair loss during treatment. Being prepared for hair loss will allow you more peace if it occurs. Also note that a couple of simple steps can go a long way in ensuring that Chemotherapy hair loss is temporary. Be gentle with your hair. Use a mild shampoo, a soft hairbrush and set your hair dryer on low heat or let your hair dry naturally. Get a shorter cut if you have long or medium-length hair. This will make your hair look fuller and thicker. It might help to make any hair loss less dramatic for you. Avoid dyeing, perming or straightening your hair during treatment. Talk to your healthcare team to find out when you can begin these activities again.
If and when you do start to lose your hair make sure that you protect what hair you have by using a satin pillowcase, using a softer brush, and washing your hair only when it is necessary. I’ve heard of some poeple that even have shaved their head instead of allowing the hair to fall out in clumps. Patients report that shaving their head eases the irritation and itching that accompanies gradual hair loss from chemotherapy. It may also look better than hair that is patchy and sparse during therapy.
Try wearing a scarf, turban or hat if you feel sensitive about your loss of hair. This will help keep your head warm as well. Consider buying a toupée. You may want to select it before your hair falls out so that it will be easier to match to your own hair color and style.
Protect your scalp when you are outside. A wide-brimmed hat or scarf can help. Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 with good UVA protection on your scalp when you are outside.
And Lastly be sure to take hair growth treatments. They won’t prevent hair loss but will speed up the growth process of new hair. Using drugs may slow down the rate of hair loss, but that depends on each individual.