Radiation and chemotherapy are two types of cancer treatment, both of which cause hair loss. While the hair loss from chemotherapy occurs all over the body and is temporary, radiation treatment patients only lose hair on the parts of the body that receive direct radiation and the hair may or may not grow back, says Genesis Health System. Patients whose hair does not grow back after radiation need to take extra precautions to protect their skin.
Cause of Hair Loss
Doctors use radiation treatment to treat malignant tumors and in some cases where they cannot completely remove a benign tumor with surgery. According to the University of Washington Medical Center, radiation treatment functions by destroying the DNA of the cells so that they can no longer multiply. Although the cancer treatment targets the tumor, radiation also affects other cells like hair follicles, which stop dividing during radiation treatment. The Teens Health resource page on radiation therapy explains that unlike tumor cells, however, normal cells typically recover from exposure to radiation and begin dividing again after treatment ends.
Affected Areas
Hair loss during radiation treatment only occurs in the areas where the patient receives direct radiation, but according to the University of Washington Medical Center, the areas where hair growth actually returns may vary. New hair growth may occur all over the affected area, or, as BreastCancer.org explains, the patient might have one or more bald spots within the affected area depending on the strength of the radiation dosages.
New Hair Growth
New hair growth in areas that received radiation treatment often grows in thinner than before receiving radiation, according to BreastCancer.org. The University of Washington Medical Center and Genesis Health System both explain that new hair growth often occurs in a different color or texture from the original hair since the radiation treatment alters the actual hair cells.
Time Frame
According to the University of Washington Medical Center, radiation therapy usually lasts about 6 weeks, with radiation treatment administered every day. Most patients start to lose their hair within 2 to 3 weeks of beginning radiation treatment, according to Genesis Health System, and should not expect to see any new hair growth in the affected areas until several months or more after the radiation treatment is over since new hair follicles take several months to grow visible hair. Genesis Health System also informs patients that they can expect new hair to grow at a rate of about a half-inch per month, although growth rates vary from person to person.
Head Covering
The University of Washington Medical Center cautions that the scalp feels especially sensitive immediately following radiation treatment, so patients need to protect their heads from sun exposure with a scarf or a hat and avoid applying sunscreen, which could irritate the scalp. Genesis Health System advises patients to prepare for scalp hair loss as a result of radiation treatment by getting a hairpiece to match their natural hair color and texture before they begin radiation. A hairpiece can increase both the patient's physical comfort and their comfort with their appearance while they wait for new hair growth. Patients interested in hairpieces should make sure that the hairpiece does not contain materials that could irritate the scalp.
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