The Best Hair Regrowth Help for Chemo

Cancer is one of the most common causes of hair loss.

There are various reasons a person can lose his hair, and one of the most common culprits is cancer. As treatment for the disease often requires chemotherapy, an individual going through this treatment has a very real chance of experiencing hair loss.

Significance

Chemotherapy causes hair loss because the treatment targets rapidly growing cells, including those of hair roots. Some people can even experience hair loss all over their body, including in the pubic area and eyebrows and eyelashes. Depending on the dosage of chemotherapy, an individual can experience hair thinning or complete baldness.

Effects

A chemotherapy patient's hair usually starts to fall out one to two weeks after treatment, either gradually or in larger clumps. Most patients can see clear evidence of the hair loss in their hairbrush, sink and shower and on their pillow. However, most people lose half of their hair before it is noticeable to others.

Prevention

According to the Mayo Clinic, scalp hypothermia is one treatment that can help an individual prevent hair loss during chemotherapy. Scalp hypothermia works by applying ice packs to the head to slow blood flow to the scalp. By decreasing blood flow, chemotherapy is less likely to affect hair follicles.

Treatments

There are also several drugs available to help promote hair growth after chemotherapy. One of the most common is Rogaine, but Nioxin, Tricomin and Revivogen are all designed to combat hair loss in men and women.

Considerations

According to the American Hair Loss Counsel, some people find that their hair texture and color are different when it begins to grow back. This differentiation occurs because pigment cells have been altered. When the pigment cells return to normal the original hair color often returns.
In most cases, chemotherapy-induced hair loss is temporary. Hair typically grows a quarter inch each month, and it should start to regrow about six weeks after treatment. Most people can expect to have a full head of hair about six months to a year after their cancer treatment has ended.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Cancer---Chemotherapy and Hair Loss
• The American Hair Loss Counsel: Chemotherapy Related Hair Loss