HAIR LOSS POST CHEMOTHERAPY
Hair loss is a very common side effect of chemotherapy and among the many patients who have been reviewed most of them have confirmed that it is one of the most crippling side effects of cancer treatment. Various cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplants use powerful drugs and medications that attack the growing cancer cells in the body. Some recent studies have shown that over 75.6% of patients who underwent chemotherapy suffered from permanent or temporary alopecia.
Hair loss post chemotherapy is usually temporary and you can regain your hair eventually but it might be different in texture, colour, and thickness. Chemotherapy can result in hair loss from scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, armpits, and other body parts. Most cancer patients show a varying degree of hair fall because of chemotherapy some just suffer from cancer thinning and not full hair fall. Chemotherapy affects the entire body whilst other cancer treatment like radiation therapy only affects the area that is being treated. How much hair a cancer patient will lose will depend on many different factors such as
- The type of drug or combination of drugs that is given.
- The dose
- The method of administration
- Your body’s sensitivity to the drug
- Your previous drug treatment
- Timing of chemotherapy treatment
A person going under chemotherapy undergoes a range of emotions that are deterred to the body image, self-esteem, and confidence. The mental and physical insecurities regarding cancer treatment do not cope up well with the loss of healthy hair. However, the good news is that with proper hair loss treatment in India most patients see proper hair regrowth without any side effects.
Why does chemotherapy cause hair fall?
Chemotherapy drugs are very power full medications that are given to the patient to attack the rapidly growing cancer cells in the body. However, these drugs often attach themselves to the hair roots and even the healthy cells in it leading to rapid or gradual hair fall.
Hair follicles produce the fastest growing cells of the human body. Under the effects of chemotherapy treatments the hair follicle cells are also damaged and as a result the follicles are not able to sustain the hair and cause hair fall.
When does the hair fall because of chemotherapy start?
Usually hair fall will start about 2-4 weeks after the treatment. You will start to notice hair fall in clumps or gradually and the scalp may feel tender. The hair loss because of chemotherapy continues till the time treatment lasts and even few weeks after that.
Hair fall treatment post chemotherapy
No treatment can guarantee that hair fall will not happen during chemotherapy but there are many modern hair fall treatments available at The Skin World, India that can help reverse hair fall post chemotherapy in India.
Cold caps hair fall treatment (scalp cooling/ scalp hypothermia):
These cooling caps are close fitted devices that are placed on the head during chemotherapy. The cooling caps are filled with chilled liquid that help slow down the blood flow to the scalp. This way there is less damage to the hair follicles. However cooling caps are not effective for everyone and often run a risk of the cancer returning to the scalp. Cooling caps can also not be used if the patient is suffering from leukaemia and lymphoma. Or if the patient is due for scalp radiation.
Also, Scalp cooling does not work if you are receiving chemotherapy through pump or tablets because you cannot wear the cap the 24 hours a day.
How to use the cooling cap: Wear the cap for about 30-45 minutes before you are set to have chemotherapy and wear it for sometimes afterwards. Your doctor will tell you about the correct timings.
Minoxidil: Minoxidil medication is a very popular form of hair fall treatment in Kanpur. It comes with a popular brand name Rogaine and it is prescribed by hair fall treatment specialist in India to control hair fall and promote hair regrowth during and after chemotherapy. Minoxidil is applied on the scalp twice a day and you will be able to see the results after three months of usage. The downside is that once you stop using Minoxidil the hair fall may start again.
Spironolactone: This drug is used to treat hair fall especially female pattern hair loss in breast cancer survivors. There is no indication that this drug causes a return of cancer.
Book Online Appointment
About Doctor
Experience the full spectrum of result-oriented whitening treatments tailored to your individual body and social preferences, administered by the top Skin and Hair Doctor in Kanpur. Our approach is both safe and cost-effective. Begin your journey with a skin test to determine the most suitable treatment for you.
PRP treatment
The platelet rich blood is extracted from the patient and injected in the scalp to promote hair regrowth. This type of therapy is slightly invasive and needs regular maintenance for long-term results. The PRP treatment is used by top dermatologist in Kanpur to treat alopecia hair fall.
Hair transplant
There are two type of hair transplant follicular unit extraction (FUE) and Follicular unit transplant (FUT). Hair transplant is used by top hair fall experts in India when none of the hair regrowth treatments is suitable for the patient whose hair is not growing back and your doctor will guide you with the suitable treatment after examining your scalp.
Hair fall is not an easy thing to deal with at any stage but it is a condition that cannot be prevented and/or controlled but with the help of some of the top experts in hair loss at The Skin World hair fall can be easily managed. Here are some tips given by our top hair regrowth experts in India to manage hair loss post chemotherapy:
- Be gentle to your hair. Avoid bleaching, colouring or perming your hair before chemotherapy as it can weaken the hair strands. Also try and avoid any parlour treatments like use of curling irons or straightener or hot rollers.
- Get an easily manageable and short hairstyle. This will make your scalp look fuller and hair will be easy to maintain.
- Ask your doctor for a prescription for a wig or head covering. This will help you transition better.
- Post the treatment continueaa to baby your hair with the use of gentle baby shampoos and conditioner.
- Instead of rubbing your hair after washing just pat dry with a microfiber towel.
- Do not take too much stress, eat a healthy diet, and let the treatment take its course.
Hair loss treatment post chemotherapy cost
The cost of hair loss treatment in India post chemotherapy varies with many factors such as the extent of hair loss and the type of treatment that you need. Hair experts in Kanpur use a combination of treatments to treat the hair loss post chemotherapy and the price of hair loss treatment depends on the treatments used and the length of the treatment needed to maintain a sustainable hair regrowth.
Some insurance providers cover the cost of hair coverings such as wigs to help the patient deal with hair loss post chemotherapy. Discuss the cost of the wig with your hair fall treatment expert in India. Hair fall treatments post chemotherapy in Kanpur will help you gain back the lost confidence in your appearance so that you can put all indications of cancer behind.
Why Choose The Skin World
The Skin World, India has a team of dedicated specialist to each procedure unlike other clinics where all procedures are done by one consultant. At The Skin World, we have one trained and experienced consultant leading a skilled team of plastic surgeons and cosmetic surgeons for every speciality. Our team believes in treating each patient with problem specific and customized treatment. For example you might think that an intrusive surgery can only solve your hair and skin problem but in reality the modern treatments used by our consultants can help get rid of the problem in a non-surgical and easy manner as well. If you too have been suffering from the crippling problem of uncontrollable hair fall the expert hair specialist at The Skin World, India can help you solve this problem in a simple and effective manner. You too can now enjoy a healthy mane of hair with our holistic hair restoration treatments done by expert hair transplant surgeons.
