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Hair-Growth Treatments After Chemo

There are many treatments marketed for hair regrowth after chemotherapy, although there is one FDA-approved one. Hair growth after chemotherapy is most successful with the combined use of preventative measures and treatments. In some cases hair regrows on its own after chemotherapy with little treatment needed.

  1. Hair Loss From Chemotherapy

    • Chemotherapy is used to destroy cancerous cells. These cells grow rapidly, and this medication is specifically meant to destroy rapidly multiplying cells. The downside to chemotherapy is that it also destroys other rapidly multiplying cells, including hair cells. Hair roots are located anywhere that hair grows on the body, so the hair loss associated with chemotherapy is usually widespread. Depending on the specific chemotherapy medication used, hair loss may range from thinning to complete baldness.

    Hair Loss Types

    • There are a few hair-loss types that are associated with chemotherapy. One of these conditions is alopecia areata, a condition that results in patchy hair loss. These patches are usually bald, shiny and scab free. Another type of hair loss is alopecia totalis, which usually results in complete hair loss on the scalp. Hair loss in this case can be rapid or slow. The third type of hair loss associated with chemotherapy is alopecia universalis, which results in widespread hair loss over the entire body. With all forms of alopecia, hair regrowth is possible since the hair follicles are still alive.

    Treatment

    • The main treatment used to regrow hair after chemotherapy is minoxidil, marketed as Rogaine. Minoxidil is a medication that is FDA-approved for both male and female hair loss. According to the Mayo Clinic website, Rogaine is used to speed up hair regrowth, but more research is needed to determine how effective it is after cancer treatments, as it works for some and not for others.

    Prevention

    • In addition to treating hair loss, there are also preventative measures. The most-used preventative measure is called scalp hypothermia or cryotherapy. When receiving chemotherapy, cryotherapy is administered by putting ice packs on your head, which is meant to slow blood flow to the scalp. In doing this, chemotherapy is less likely to affect hair on the scalp. The downside to this is that the cancer may return and attack the scalp, since this area didn't receive adequate treatment.

    When Hair Regrowth Is Not Possible

    • If your alopecia has left behind scars (cicatricial alopecia,) you will not be able to regrow hair. The reason this happens is, when the hair falls out, the scalp scars, which replaces the hair follicles with scar tissue. This replacement makes it impossible to regrow hair. In this case the initial course with Minoxidil will not be effective.

      There are options for hair replacement products such as lace front wigs and specialty wigs that are sold online. Depending on the source, these options can be very affordable. During your recovery, you will be taught how to draw on your eyebrows and there are even options to have them tattooed on.

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