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Hair Regrowth After Leukemia Treatment

Chemotherapy treats leukemia by destroying cancer cells. However, the treatment can also affect healthy cells, resulting in side effects such as anagen effluvium, a form of temporary hair loss.

  1. Basics

    • Hair grows in alternating phases of growth and rest. The anagen, or growth phase lasts for a few years, while the telogen, or resting phase lasts for a few months. After telogen, hair falls out to make way for new growth.

    Significance

    • Chemotherapy prevents hair cells from dividing properly during the anagen phase.

    Identification

    • Chemotherapy-induced hair loss typically occurs within a few weeks of starting the treatment. It is characterized by a partial or complete loss of scalp, facial and body hair.

    Recovery

    • Hair regrowth begins about four to six weeks after chemotherapy has ended.

    Considerations

    • New hair growth may temporarily differ from old hair in terms of texture and color.

    Tip

    • Rogaine is a topical hair loss treatment that may help speed up the regrowth of areas affected by anagen effluvium.

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