Do all chemo treatments cause hair loss?
Chemotherapy molecules are powerful drugs that destroy fast-growing cancer cells. Unfortunately, these drugs also affect other fast-growing cells in the body, including the hair follicle cells responsible for hair formation.
Chemotherapy triggers an abrupt halt in the hair growth phase (anagen phase), followed by rapid hair loss over most of the scalp: this is called anagen effluvium. Hair loss under chemotherapy usually begins 1 to 3 weeks after the first session.
Chemotherapy can cause hair loss all over the body, not just on the scalp. Sometimes the hair on the eyelashes, eyebrows, underarms and other parts of the body will also fall out.
The severity of chemotherapy-induced alopecia depends on different factors:
- the molecule(s) used; some chemotherapy drugs are more likely than others to cause hair loss;
- the doses used; depending on the doses used, hair loss can be more or less severe.
For some types of cancer, chemotherapy may be combined with radiotherapy to the head and neck. Hair loss from radiotherapy is a different kind of hair loss that can occur in addition to hair loss from chemotherapy.
Is hair loss inevitable?
Hair generally begins to fall out 2 to 4 weeks after the start of treatment. It can fall out very quickly in clumps or gradually. Hair loss may be accompanied by increased sensitivity of the scalp.
Hair loss due to chemotherapy will continue throughout treatment and up to a few weeks afterwards. It may take several weeks after treatment for hair to start growing again.
What can you do about hair loss during chemo?
During the entire period of chemotherapy treatment, it is important to take care of your scalp and hair:
- Wash hair gently. It is preferable to use mild shampoos, adapted to fragile hair, from the beginning of the treatments. Application is done by gently massaging the scalp with the fingertips. It is recommended to wash the hair the day before a chemotherapy session and to wait 3 to 7 days after the session to wash it again.
- Avoid damage to the hair. It is important not to further damage the hair and scalp already weakened by the treatments: dry the hair without rubbing it too hard or avoid using hair dryers, straightening or curling irons, coloring, perms and curlers...
How to promote hair regrowth after chemo
- The use of an anti-hair loss shampoo with strengthening properties;
- The application of a stimulating anti-hair loss lotion, preferably applied by massaging the scalp with the fingertips to activate blood circulation and promote the penetration of the lotion's active ingredients;
- Taking a food supplement to provide the nutrients necessary for healthy hair regrowth.