How Chemotherapy Causes Hair Loss?
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Attacks Fast Growing Cells
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Chemotherapy does not focus simply on cancer cells alone. Instead, it focuses on cells that grow rapidly in the body. These are the cells that chemotherapy destroys given enough time and potency. Unfortunately, hair follicles fall under the category of fast growing cells and, as a result, they immediately come under attack by the chemicals. Not everyone loses their hair due to chemotherapy, and not everyone who does lose hair loses all of it. Everyone is different, but most people go into chemotherapy expecting to lose hair and are emotionally prepared for it. Radiation treatments will also cause hair loss but only to the spot being radiated. Radiation also differs from chemotherapy in the fact that higher dosages of radiation can cause a permanent hair loss situation.
Different Drugs, Different Reactions
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Some chemo drugs do not cause complete hair loss but will cause hair to thin to a noticeable degree. Other drugs will cause nearly every hair of the head, face and body to fall out. For the most part the hair loss is not permanent and the hair will grow back though it will be somewhat finer and most likely a different color and texture for a couple months until everything returns to normal again. While hair is under attack by the chemicals from the moment they are introduced to the body, actual hair loss may not occur until the first few days after the treatment begins. On the other hand if the hair is particularly well cared for and healthy it may stay in the scalp for several weeks or perhaps not even fall out at all, depending on the chemicals used and the person receiving treatment.
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The Cold Cap
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Sometimes hair loss can be prevented or at least delayed by wearing what is known as a cold cap which is cooled to keep the skin at a temperature of 68 degrees F. This cap, when worn before, during and after the chemotherapy treatment, causes the veins and capillaries to constrict, thereby reducing the flow of blood to the scalp areas. This will keep a large amount of chemicals from reaching your scalp and affecting your hair follicles. It is also helpful to get long hair cut short before commencing chemotherapy treatment as shorter hair keeps a fuller appearance longer. Eyebrow hair may fall out as well so the use of an eyebrow pencil may be helpful. There are several different kinds of chemotherapy treatments and not all of them cause the hair loss problems. The doctor can advise the patient on what to expect from the treatment.
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