|  | Cancer | Chemotherapy

Can Chemo Permanently Damage Hair Follicles & Cause Hair Loss?

Chemotherapy attacks rapidly growing cancer cells and healthy cells, such as those in hair follicles, leading to alopecia, or hair loss. This hair loss is usually temporary, with regrowth resuming weeks after treatment ends. In rare cases, chemo can cause permanent hair loss.

  1. What Is Chemotherapy?

    • Often referred to simply as "chemo," chemotherapy uses powerful chemical medications to treat severe illnesses, usually cancers, by killing cells that divide quickly and spread the disease, according to CureSearch.org. Different drugs and dosages cause different side affects.

    Research Study

    • A study published in the journal "Bone Marrow Transplantation" states that permanent alopecia has occasionally been observed after high-dose chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, thiotepa and carboplatin (CTC).

    Details of the Study

    • The mechanism for this irreversible chemotherapy-induced alopecia is unknown. It has resulted from high doses of busulphan, a chemo drug used to clear out bone marrow, in combination with cyclophosphamide, followed by bone marrow transplantation, according to the study.

    Study Patient Results

    • Twenty-four male and female patients received two or three courses of CTC followed by cell transplantation. Eight of the 24 patients developed permanent alopecia, nine had incomplete and/or thin hair regrowth, and the remaining seven resumed normal hair growth. Normally, patients taking just one course of CTC have complete hair regrowth within 6 months of ending chemo.

    Study Consideration

    • Although permanent alopecia may come secondary to life-threatening diseases, the study suggests taking into account its effect when trying to optimize patient treatment and quality of life thereafter.

Chemotherapy - Related Articles