Your doctor will be able to tell you whether your specific chemotherapy treatment is likely to cause hair loss. This allows you to prepare ahead for head covers or hair loss treatments.
You may not realise how valuable your hair is until you lose it. And if you have cancer and are ready to start chemo, the possibility of hair loss is extremely real.
“Hair loss is one of the most common side symptoms reported by both men and women after being diagnosed with cancer;” says Rani Chetty, founder of Tymeless Necessity Hair.
“Every time you look in the mirror, your altered appearance serves as a reminder of your disease and everything you’ve gone through since your diagnosis. For many people, hair loss is also a sign to the rest of the world that they have cancer. If you aren’t comfortable discussing your cancer journey with friends or family, discuss it with your cancer care team who can help you prepare for the likelihood of hair loss as a side effect of therapy.”
Why does hair loss happen with chemo?
Chemotherapy treatments are extremely potent pharmaceuticals that target quickly growing cancer cells. Unfortunately, these medications also destroy your body’s other quickly growing cells, including those in your hair roots.
Chemotherapy may result in hair loss across your body, not only on your scalp. Eyelash, eyebrow, armpit, pubic, and other body hair may come out at times. Some chemotherapy medicines are more likely to induce hair loss than others, and various doses can result in anything from thinning to full baldness.
The good news is that most hair loss caused by chemotherapy is transitory. In other words: Your hair will grow back!
Here are a few important things you should know about chemo and hair loss:
- Hair normally begins to come out two to four weeks after therapy begins.
- It could fall out in clumps fast or gradually. Loose hair will most likely accumulate on your pillow, in your hairbrush or comb, or in your sink or shower drain.
- Your scalp may be sore, red, or irritated.
- Your hair loss will continue during your therapy and for a few weeks thereafter.
- Your treatment will determine whether your hair thins or if you get entirely bald.
When hair grows back following chemo
As we’ve mentioned, it may take a while for your hair to recuperate and begin growing again after therapy. When your hair grows back, it will most likely be slightly different from the hair you lost. However, the difference is usually just transitory.
Your new hair may be different in texture or colour. It may be curlier than previously, or it may be grey until the cells that govern the pigment in your hair reactivate.
Is it possible to prevent hair loss during chemo?
Several therapies have been studied as potential strategies to prevent hair loss, but none have proven to be completely effective, including:
Cooling caps for the scalp (scalp hypothermia)
To decrease blood flow to your scalp during chemotherapy infusions, a tightly fitting cap cooled by chilled liquid can be placed on your head. Chemotherapy medicines are less likely to affect your hair in this manner.
Scalp cooling caps and other kinds of scalp hypothermia have been studied and shown to be effective in the majority of people who have tried them. However, because your scalp does not receive the same dose of chemotherapy as the rest of your body, there is a very small risk of cancer reoccurring. People who have scalp hypothermia describe feeling painfully cold and suffering from headaches.
Ointments and serums
Minoxidil is a hair growth stimulant (otherwise known as Rogaine). Applying minoxidil to your scalp before and during chemotherapy is unlikely to prevent hair loss, however, some data suggests it may hasten hair regrowth. More research is needed to determine whether minoxidil is useful in hair regrowth following cancer treatment.
Steps that may help with hair loss due to chemo
Hair loss cannot be prevented or controlled, but it can be managed. To reduce the stress and anxiety associated with hair loss, do the following steps throughout your therapy.
Prior to therapy
Take care of your hair
Make it a practice to treat your hair gently. Don’t bleach, colour, or perm your hair since it will become brittle. Allow your hair to air dry as much as possible and avoid using heating devices like curling irons and hot rollers. Strengthening your hair now may help it stay in your head for a little longer during treatment.
Consider having your hair cut
Short hair appears fuller than long hair. As a result, if you have short hair, it will be less obvious when your hair falls out. In addition, if you have long hair, cutting it short may help you make a smoother transition to total hair loss.
Wear a head covering
Now is the time to consider scarves, and other head coverings. It is entirely up to you whether or not to wear a head covering to conceal your hair loss. However, it is preferable to plan for it now rather than later.
Baby your remaining hair during treatment
Throughout your chemotherapy treatment, keep your moderate hair tactics in place. Make use of a delicate brush. Only wash your hair when absolutely required. Use a mild shampoo if necessary.
Think about shaving your head. Some people say their scalps are itchy, sensitive, and irritated during treatments and when their hair is falling out. Shaving your head can alleviate the itch and relieve you from the shame of shedding.
Take care of your scalp
If your head will be exposed to the sun or cold air, use sunscreen or a head covering to protect it. Because your scalp may be sensitive during treatment, extreme cold or sunlight can easily aggravate it. Because having no or little hair can make you feel cold, a head covering may make you more comfortable.
It is recommended that you use natural oils and massage this into your scalp during this period. This will ensure that your root follicles still remain healthy during your treatment journey
Continue to care for your hair gently after treatment
Your new hair growth will be exceptionally delicate and susceptible to harm from styling products and heating devices. Wait until your new hair has grown stronger before dyeing or bleaching it. Processing may cause harm to your new hair as well as irritation to your delicate scalp.
Be patient
Your hair will most likely grow back slowly and may not appear normal immediately away. However, growth takes time, as does the restoration of the damage caused by your cancer treatment.
Boost your confidence with a wig or hairpiece
Tymeless Necessity Hair offers superior human hair wigs and hair loss solutions for men, women, and children suffering from partial or total hair loss.
What makes Tymeless unique is that each wig and hairpiece chosen is specifically customised according to your lifestyle, personality, and individual needs. Every product we create is so realistic that no one will know you’re wearing a hairpiece.
Hair loss and radiation therapy
Radiation therapy, like chemotherapy, targets rapidly developing cells in your body, but unlike chemotherapy, it only affects the area where treatment is concentrated. If you receive radiation to your head, you will most likely lose your hair.
After your treatments are finished, your hair will generally start growing back. However, whether it returns to its original thickness and fullness is dependent on your treatment. The effects of various types of radiation and doses on your hair will vary. Higher radiation dosages can result in permanent hair loss. Discuss with your doctor the dose you’ll be receiving so you know what to expect.
Radiation therapy has an effect on your skin as well. The treatment area will most likely be red and may appear burnt or tanned. Because your skin will be sensitive to cold and sunlight during your radiation therapy, it’s a good idea to choose a medical wig cap when exploring wigs and other hairpieces.
What is a medical wig cap?
A medical wig cap is a custom-made wig specifically designed for individuals who have lost their hair as a result of medical conditions or treatments, such as alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, trichotillomania, chemotherapy, or any other clinical disease or treatment resulting in hair loss. At Tymeless Necessity Hair, we import our medical wig caps from overseas and ensure they are of the highest standard on the market.
Most, if not all our wigs, have a hand-tied cap. That means every single hair is tied by hand onto the cap’s soft material. A 100% hand-tied cap looks and moves like natural hair and is the most comfortable wig cap construction option because the wig cap material is soft and flexible.
Tymeless Necessity Care can help you!
Tymeless Necessity Hair offers a free consultation to aid you with dealing with hair loss. We offer a free consultation to aid you through the process of having a wig made from your own hair. We’ll be there to assist you throughout the entire process from start to finish. You can access our entire library of instructional videos on our social media pages. You can also see a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions regarding our services and our hair donation requirements on our website’s FAQ page.
READ MORE BLOGS BY TYMELESS NECESSITY HAIR HERE:
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF HAIR EXTENSIONS
WHY CHOOSE A CUSTOM HUMAN HAIR WIG?
WHEN THERE’S A KINK IN YOUR HUMAN HAIR WIG’S KERATIN
Leave a reply