Chemotherapy and Hair Loss

Hair loss due to chemotherapy treatments is a common side effect of the treatment. Chemotherapy kills rapidly reproducing cancer cells, however the side effect of this treatment is that chemotherapy also destroys the rapidly reproducing cells that promote the growth of hair and nails. Hair is lost rapidly and in large quantities in most instances.

During this process, no prescription, herbal or over the counter treatments of any kind have been found to assist in maintaining the hair.

Hair loss after chemotherapy is sometimes referred to as Telogen Effuvium, which is the term for sudden, diffuse hair loss that is caused by a trauma, such as chemotherapy, interrupting the normal hair growth cycle.

Fortunately, hair normally returns within six months to a year after treatments cease. Patients have found that hair re-grown after chemotherapy is finer in texture and lighter in color at first. These are usually temporary conditions that improve with time.

Those recovering from chemotherapy should avoid chemical processes such as perms, relaxers, bleaching and coloring in the hair until it grows at least three inches and not until at least one year after the last treatment. Chemotherapy can cause skin sensitivity and these chemicals can be extremely irritating to the scalp.