Most people don't value their hair until they start losing it. If you are someone who has gone through chemotherapy or has seen a loved one go through it, you may know what we are talking about. One of the biggest drawbacks of going through chemo is not just the pain but also the mental trauma that one goes through.
Chemotherapy and Hair Loss
A person not only loses hair from their head but also from the rest of their faces and their bodies. It is painful to lose them because it changes how you look. Hair loss is common among men and women and could be caused if someone is going through chemotherapy.
There are plenty of other side effects of chemotherapy but hair loss is the one most feared by most patients. You cannot miss your chemotherapy sessions if that is what the doctor has advised for you but you can still care for your hair. You should consult with your treatment team and discuss your hair loss concerns. There are ways that you can ensure that you do not lose much hair through the treatment and after it.
Why Does It Happen?
Chemotherapy includes the use of powerful medicines that stop rapidly growing cancer cells. Unfortunately, it tends to target other rapidly growing cells in your body including the hair follicles around your body. When the chemo medication hits the body, it starts targeting hair. This treatment not only stops its growth but ceases its regeneration.
Most of the patients that go through chemo treatment report losing hair on their heads, armpits eyes lashes, and pubic hair. There are a few cancer medications that do not cause extreme hair loss but it is still best to consult with your doctors so that you know what to expect.
Hair starts falling off the body mostly during 6-8 weeks after the chemotherapy starts. The hair thins out first and gradually stops growing until you go full bald depending on your cancer medication. You may be able to grow your hair back after the treatment finishes but there is a difference between the hair before treatment and the ones after it.
Is It Possible To Save Your Hair?
Unfortunately, there are no treatments that guarantee no hair fall during cancer treatment. There are still ways that you can care for your hair and make sure that you go through the least damage. Following are some of the methods that you should look into if you worry about losing your hair.
Scalp Hypothermia
The first solution for hair loss that you should look into is Scalp Hyperthermia. The process involves wearing a cap on your head during the chemotherapy. The cap is full of a gel close fitted to the cap to keep the blood vessels on your head cool.
It causes the blood flow to slow down, because of which the chemo drugs affect your hair the least. Recent researches show that wearing such a cap is one of the most effective ways to reduce hair loss during cancer treatment. The procedure also reduces the chances of cancer cells regenerating in your scalp after the treatment.
Doctors all over the world are now suggesting these caps to patients going through similar treatment. However, you may feel extremely cold and headaches because of wearing the cap for too long but it is completely normal.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is also known as Rogaine is an approved hair loss prevention drug. It is not used for chemo-induced hair loss but has still shown results in some cases. Most of the people who used Minoxidil saw a significant change in their hair loss ratios.
There are a few studies that suggest that the drug assists hair growth and regeneration. It can prove to be fruitful when dealing with hair loss during chemotherapy since it aids hair. We need more research on the drug before factual claims can be made in this regard.
More Tips You Should Consider
Gentle Is the Way to Go
It is crucial to understand that hair care during chemotherapy isn’t a day’s job and becomes more of a lifestyle. We suggest getting into the habit of taking care of your hair as soon as you For this, you should start taking care of your hair every day. This means saying no to dying, hair straightening, regular blow-drying, and all other things that might harm your hair. Your hair might stay on your head longer if you strengthen it now because you won’t get a chance after the treatment.
Keep Your Hair Short
Cutting some of your hair off is better than losing all of it later. Everyone knows that taking care of shorter hair is easier and a short hair length might help you strengthen your hair too. Consider this as an opportunity to take a leap of faith and try that short hair look you have always wanted to. Who knows? Maybe it could be your permanent look even after you have recovered and your hair has fully grown back.
Look Forward To Head Coverings
We will not lie to you; you might have to live without hair for a few weeks or months during the treatment. Fortunately, there are ways that you can hide this. Most people use scarves, head coverings, wigs, and hair extensions to cover up for their missing hair.
We still suggest consulting with your cancer expert before you make a decision regarding this. It is best to consult with them because the doctors can suggest something that works best for you.
Conclusion
Caring for hair during cancer treatment is more about taking preventive measures because there isn’t much that can be done after it. We suggest looking up more ways to help you care for your hair during cancer. It would be best to take your time and make sure you know what you are doing.
Chemotherapy and Hair Loss
A person not only loses hair from their head but also from the rest of their faces and their bodies. It is painful to lose them because it changes how you look. Hair loss is common among men and women and could be caused if someone is going through chemotherapy.
There are plenty of other side effects of chemotherapy but hair loss is the one most feared by most patients. You cannot miss your chemotherapy sessions if that is what the doctor has advised for you but you can still care for your hair. You should consult with your treatment team and discuss your hair loss concerns. There are ways that you can ensure that you do not lose much hair through the treatment and after it.
Why Does It Happen?
Chemotherapy includes the use of powerful medicines that stop rapidly growing cancer cells. Unfortunately, it tends to target other rapidly growing cells in your body including the hair follicles around your body. When the chemo medication hits the body, it starts targeting hair. This treatment not only stops its growth but ceases its regeneration.
Most of the patients that go through chemo treatment report losing hair on their heads, armpits eyes lashes, and pubic hair. There are a few cancer medications that do not cause extreme hair loss but it is still best to consult with your doctors so that you know what to expect.
Hair starts falling off the body mostly during 6-8 weeks after the chemotherapy starts. The hair thins out first and gradually stops growing until you go full bald depending on your cancer medication. You may be able to grow your hair back after the treatment finishes but there is a difference between the hair before treatment and the ones after it.
Is It Possible To Save Your Hair?
Unfortunately, there are no treatments that guarantee no hair fall during cancer treatment. There are still ways that you can care for your hair and make sure that you go through the least damage. Following are some of the methods that you should look into if you worry about losing your hair.
Scalp Hypothermia
The first solution for hair loss that you should look into is Scalp Hyperthermia. The process involves wearing a cap on your head during the chemotherapy. The cap is full of a gel close fitted to the cap to keep the blood vessels on your head cool.
It causes the blood flow to slow down, because of which the chemo drugs affect your hair the least. Recent researches show that wearing such a cap is one of the most effective ways to reduce hair loss during cancer treatment. The procedure also reduces the chances of cancer cells regenerating in your scalp after the treatment.
Doctors all over the world are now suggesting these caps to patients going through similar treatment. However, you may feel extremely cold and headaches because of wearing the cap for too long but it is completely normal.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is also known as Rogaine is an approved hair loss prevention drug. It is not used for chemo-induced hair loss but has still shown results in some cases. Most of the people who used Minoxidil saw a significant change in their hair loss ratios.
There are a few studies that suggest that the drug assists hair growth and regeneration. It can prove to be fruitful when dealing with hair loss during chemotherapy since it aids hair. We need more research on the drug before factual claims can be made in this regard.
More Tips You Should Consider
Gentle Is the Way to Go
It is crucial to understand that hair care during chemotherapy isn’t a day’s job and becomes more of a lifestyle. We suggest getting into the habit of taking care of your hair as soon as you For this, you should start taking care of your hair every day. This means saying no to dying, hair straightening, regular blow-drying, and all other things that might harm your hair. Your hair might stay on your head longer if you strengthen it now because you won’t get a chance after the treatment.
Keep Your Hair Short
Cutting some of your hair off is better than losing all of it later. Everyone knows that taking care of shorter hair is easier and a short hair length might help you strengthen your hair too. Consider this as an opportunity to take a leap of faith and try that short hair look you have always wanted to. Who knows? Maybe it could be your permanent look even after you have recovered and your hair has fully grown back.
Look Forward To Head Coverings
We will not lie to you; you might have to live without hair for a few weeks or months during the treatment. Fortunately, there are ways that you can hide this. Most people use scarves, head coverings, wigs, and hair extensions to cover up for their missing hair.
We still suggest consulting with your cancer expert before you make a decision regarding this. It is best to consult with them because the doctors can suggest something that works best for you.
Conclusion
Caring for hair during cancer treatment is more about taking preventive measures because there isn’t much that can be done after it. We suggest looking up more ways to help you care for your hair during cancer. It would be best to take your time and make sure you know what you are doing.