Hair loss during chemotherapy

One of life’s most difficult events is hearing that you have cancer. The treatment itself might be challenging, adding to the patient’s mental and physical burdens. Hair loss is a common side effect of chemotherapy for cancer patients. In this article, we’ll discuss hair loss during chemotherapy from every angle, including its causes, effects on your mental health, and how to deal with it.

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Understanding Chemotherapy-Induced Hair Loss:

Chemotherapy is a strong and useful way to treat cancer, but it has some bad affects. Hair loss is one of the most obvious and mentally hard side effects. Chemotherapy drugs go after cells that divide quickly. This includes cancer cells as well as healthy cells like those in hair follicles.

How much and how fast hair loss happens can change based on the cancer drugs used, the dose, and how sensitive the person is to these drugs. For some, hair loss happens slowly over time, while for others, it happens quickly and all at once. Not only is hair falling out on the head, but it may also fall out on the eyebrows, eyelashes, and body.

What should you expect?

In most cases, hair loss starts two to four weeks after therapy has begun.

It could come out in clumps or it could thin out over time. You may find clumps of hair in unusual places, such as your pillow, your hairbrush, your comb or the drain of your bathroom sink or shower. Tenderness on your scalp is normal.

Hair loss will persist during therapy and for some time thereafter. Treatment determines whether hair loss is gradual or sudden.

Hair loss is an unpleasant side effect of cancer treatment, according to patients. Each time you get a sight of yourself in a mirror, your changing appearance is a reminder of your sickness and everything you’ve encountered since your diagnosis.

When will your hair grow back?

It might take a few weeks for your hair to heal and start growing again after treatment.

When your hair grows back, it will likely look a little different from the hair you lost. The change is usually only there for a short time.

Your new hair may be a different colour or feel. It could be curlier than before, or it could turn grey until the cells that control your hair coloured start working again.

Can hair loss be prevented?

There is currently no way to prevent hair loss from chemotherapy or its aftereffects. Many therapies have been studied for their potential to stop hair loss, but none have proven to be 100% successful.

• Scalp cooling caps (scalp hypothermia). You can reduce blood flow to your scalp by wearing a tight-fitting cap filled with chilly liquid during chemotherapy infusions. This reduces the likelihood that you will lose your hair due to chemotherapy. Researchers have shown that most persons who use scalp cooling caps or other kinds of scalp hypothermia have at least some relief from their symptoms.

However, the operation also leads in a very small chance of cancer reoccurring in your scalp, as this area doesn’t receive the same dose of chemotherapy as the rest of your body. Participants in scalp hypothermia studies often complain of a numbing coldness and accompanying headaches.

• Minoxidil (Rogaine). There is little evidence that using minoxidil, a medicine licenced for hair loss, on your scalp before and during chemotherapy would prevent hair loss, however it may hasten hair regeneration. To determine if minoxidil is helpful in regrowing hair following cancer therapy, more study is needed.

How to make the best of it

In most cases, you won’t be able to stop or even slow your hair loss, but you can treat it. To lessen the emotional toll of hair loss during treatment, keep the following in mind.

Before treatment

• Be gentle to your hair: Make it a practise to treat your hair gently. Don’t bleach, colour, or perm your hair because it will weaken. 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.
• Think about getting your hair cut: Short hair appears fuller than long hair. If you have short hair, it will be less noticeable as your hair falls out. Going short may also help you make a smoother adjustment to total hair loss if you have long hair.
• Consider wearing a head covering: Now is the time to consider wigs, 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. Request a prescription from your doctor for a wig, the cost of which may be covered by your health insurance.

During treatment

• Pamper your remaining hair: Throughout your chemotherapy treatment, keep up your moderate hair techniques. Apply a gentle bristle brush. Only wash your hair when absolutely required. Think about using a mild shampoo.
• Think about shaving your head: Some patients claim that when receiving treatments and when their hair is falling out, their scalps feel sensitive, itchy, and irritated. You can avoid the shame of shedding and lessen the aggravation by shaving your head.
• Guard your scalp: Use a head covering or sunscreen to protect your head if it will be exposed to the sun or chilly air. As you receive treatment, your scalp may become sensitive, making it easily irritated by intense cold or sunshine. Wearing a head covering may help you feel more comfortable if you have less or no hair.

After treatment

• Continue gentle hair care: Your newly grown hair will be extremely delicate and susceptible to harm from heated tools and styling products. Wait to colour or bleach your newly grown hair until it becomes more resilient. Processing may aggravate your sensitive scalp and harm your newly acquired hair.
• Have patience: Your hair will probably grow back slowly and may not look normal right away. However, both growth and healing from the harm your cancer treatment has caused need time.

Strategies for Coping:

1. Education and Preparation: Patients considering chemotherapy should have a conversation with their healthcare provider about the risks involved, including hair loss. Having some idea of what to expect can help people adjust their attitudes towards the inevitable physical changes.
2. Choosing the Right Wig: A significant number of individuals diagnosed with cancer choose to use wigs as a means of preserving a semblance of normality. The act of selecting a wig prior to the onset of hair loss enables individuals to identify a style and colour that closely resembles their own natural hair, so facilitating a more seamless transition.
3. Scarves and Headwear: Scarves, hats, and other head coverings offer a viable and stylish substitute for wigs, ensuring both comfort and fashionability. For individuals who prioritise a lighter and more breathable alternative, they might serve as a highly advantageous choice.
4. Embracing the Natural Look: Some persons may choose not to cover their heads at all. Adopting a more natural appearance can be a liberating and energising choice. Doing one’s own thing and not giving in to pressure from others is important.
5. Talking to a Counsellor: When dealing with the psychological difficulties that come with hair loss, it can be quite helpful to seek the counsel of a trained mental health practitioner. Effective coping mechanisms, emotional support, and a secure environment for expressing emotions can all be gained through counselling.

Conclusion:

Hair loss is a common and visible consequence of chemotherapy that can have a substantial impact on an individual’s self-esteem and emotional welfare. Nevertheless, with adequate knowledge and assistance, individuals can navigate this facet of their cancer experience with greater assurance.

It is important for healthcare professionals, as well as friends and family, to acknowledge the emotional difficulties linked to hair loss and extend support and empathy to those confronting this aspect of cancer therapy.