1. Why Hair Falls Out
Anticancer drugs target cancer by killing fast-growing cells. This is what causes many of the common side effects of chemotherapy, because some of our healthy cells, such as cells in the bone marrow, mouth and hair follicles, also grow and multiply quickly. Hair loss and chemotherapy go together automatically in many people's minds, but not all chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss. Ask the doctor if the drugs in your regimen will cause hair loss. If so, the hair loss will include facial and body hair, not just the hair on the head.
2. Take Control
Instead of waking up one morning to a pillow laden with clumps of hair, many chemotherapy patients choose to take control of their appearance before the drugs take effect. If the doctor shares that hair loss is common with the specific drug you're taking, you can cut your hair in a short style, which may make the loss easier. Some patients even decide to shave their heads completely rather than wait for the hair to fall out.
3. Keep Blood Flowing
Patients may find several products advertised to stop chemotherapy from reaching the hair follicles in the scalp. A scalp tourniquet compresses blood vessels on the scalp to keep chemotherapy from reaching the hair follicles. Wrapping the scalp tightly with a rubber tourniquet may cause tissue damage. A cold cap or ice turban stops chemotherapy drugs from reaching the scalp by causing blood vessels to constrict. However, this can also keep chemotherapy from reaching cancer cells in the scalp, and the FDA banned cold caps in 1990.
4. Hair and Scalp Care
The newly exposed scalp can feel tender and sensitive when hair loss first occurs. Patients should use a mild cleanser, such as baby shampoo. Some patients start to grow new hair before chemotherapy ends, and this hair may appear different in color or texture from the original hair. To protect this new hair, patients should avoid styling products, heated styling tools and dyes. Patients should also protect the scalp from sun exposure with a hat or sunscreen.
5. Consider a Wig
Some patients decide before chemotherapy begins to choose a wig that matches their original hair color and style. If so, some health insurance companies will pay for it. Although there are many wig purveyors, chemotherapy patients should consider a company that makes wigs especially for chemotherapy patients. The caps of these wigs are soft and non-irritating to a scalp made sensitive by cancer treatment.
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