Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy are majorly dependent on drugs that attack rapidly growing cancer cells. Other than stopping the cancer cells, this treatment also affects healthy cells in the body- including those in the hair roots. Depending upon the dose of chemotherapy drugs, hair loss can range between mere hair thinning and complete baldness.
From scalp to eyebrows, eyelashes, and armpits, chemotherapy can start hair fall to different parts of the body. Luckily, the hair loss during chemotherapy is temporary and is known as Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia (CIA).
If you are also losing your precious hair strands to chemo, continue reading because we have listed everything you need to know about the CIA.
From major causes to possible recommendations, we bring you all the critical details about hair loss triggered by chemotherapy. Let’s understand the major causes first. Read on!
Note: This blog has been created in collaboration with Lordhair, a global hair system supplier.
What’s Chemotherapy-induced Alopecia?
Chemotherapy-induced Alopecia (CIA) is a condition during which the cancer patient goes through hair loss all over the body. It is a temporary phenomenon seen in cancer patients. This hair shedding is a major source of stress for cancer patients and can heavily impact their mental well-being.
Is it normal to lose hair during chemotherapy?
A normal person sheds around 50-100 hair strands every day. However, during chemotherapy treatment, a patient may shed hundreds of hair strands throughout the day. These strands are often seen on the hair brush, on the bed sheet, or in the shower room.
The good news is that it’s completely normal to lose hair during chemotherapy. The hair strands normally grow back within 6-8 weeks after finishing the chemo treatment.
Managing hair loss due to chemotherapy
There is no need to worry about hair loss during chemotherapy. Here are some tips that will help you manage hair loss during chemo treatment:
Short hair
Short hair often looks fuller than longer hair. As a result, hair loss might not be noticeable during the initial duration of chemotherapy.
Long hair can make the scalp itchy after starting chemo. A lot of men consider shaving their heads off to ease the discomfort.
Get a hair wig
Hair loss during chemo treatment is embarrassing for a lot of cancer patients. We recommend using a wig if the same is true for you. It’s a popular way to tackle temporary hair loss caused during chemo treatment. Modern-day wigs are durable, breathable, and scalp friendly.
Check out these medical wigs for women that are designed for the sensitive skin of cancer patients.
Skip styling
One of the best lifestyle changes to minimize hair fall during chemotherapy is to avoid styling your hair a lot. Styling with a hairdryer or curling rod can damage the already weakened hair follicles.
Brushing too hard can also cause your hair to fall out more during chemo treatment. In fact, don’t brush more than once a day!
Recover from hair loss
Above are the treatments to deal with hair fall during chemotherapy. However, if you are seeing no sign of recovery, we recommend consulting your doctor.
We wish you a speedy recovery!
