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some people who have undergone treatment for cancer, the regrowth of their hair
after chemotherapy is a visible and a heartening sign.
Chemotherapy can
destroy cancer cells, but it kills healthy cells,
too. That is why most people will lose at least some of their hair after
undergoing chemotherapy.
The
hair regrowth process is slow but steady, and hair loss is rarely
permanent.
Fast
facts on hair growth after chemo:
·
Hair loss can vary from total to
patchy with some people's hair simply become thinner or brittle.
·
People whose hair grew fast before
chemotherapy may find it also grows more rapidly after chemo.
·
Hair regrowth can start as soon as
chemotherapy is no longer attacking healthy cells.
·
Hair growth rates vary with a person's age, health, and other factors, such
as ethnicity.
How long does it take to grow hair after chemo?
Chemotherapy may affect hair follicles, which can cause hair loss.
Healthy
cells in the hair follicles that support hair growth can be affected by chemotherapy
treatment.
As
a result, people with cancer who are given chemotherapy may lose the hair on
their heads, eyelashes, eyebrows, and elsewhere on the body.
When
hair loss occurs, it usually starts within 2 weeks of treatment and continues
to get worse for 1-2 months.
Similarly,
a person's hair does not start to grow back immediately after their last
chemotherapy treatment. The delay is due to chemotherapy drugs taking time to
leave the body and to stop attacking healthy dividing cells.
Most
people receiving chemotherapy will begin seeing a limited amount of thin, fuzzy
hair a few weeks after their last treatment. Real hair starts to grow properly
within a month or two of the last treatment.
A
small fraction of people who are given chemotherapy may never regrow their
hair. Specific drugs increase the risk of permanent hair loss. The breast cancer drug docetaxel,
which is sold under the brand name Taxotere, has been known to cause permanent
hair loss in some people.
Timeline
Knowing
a little bit about hair growth can help a person understand hair regrowth after
chemotherapy.
All
hair goes through periods of rest, during which it does not grow. Furthermore,
when the hair hits a certain length or when it is pulled, it falls out. So the
scalp is always shedding some hair.
The following
timeline indicates what happens after chemotherapy:
·
2-3 weeks: Light, fuzzy hair forms.
·
1-2 months: Thicker hair begins
growing.
·
2-3 months: An inch of hair may have
grown.
·
6 months: Some 2-3 inches of hair
may have grown, covering bald patches. People with very short hair may be able
to wear a previous style.
·
12 months: The hair may have grown
4-6 inches and be long enough to brush or style.
It
can take several years for hair to return to its previous style, particularly
for people who once had long hair.
Learn more about chemotherapy here,
including the different types, uses, and potential side effects.
Appearance and texture
Hair loss may start 2 weeks after treatment.
After
chemotherapy, hair initially grows as thin fuzz. It may stick straight up or be
difficult to style. Being very thin, it may also not be visible from a
distance.
Some
hair follicles may be in the active growth period before others. When this
happens, the hair length on a person's head can vary, again, making it more difficult
to style. Likewise, it may look patchy or unruly at first.
Over
time, the hair will settle into a more regular growth pattern. But hair texture
might be different from how it was before. Some people recovering from
cancer refer to "chemo curls," as hair can become more
brittle or unruly, curlier, or even change color.
Sometimes
the change in a person's hair is short-lived. In other cases, it may be
permanent. There is no way to predict whose hair will change texture after
chemo or whether the change will be permanent.
Doctors
still do not fully understand why hair texture sometimes changes after chemo.
It could be that chemo damages the genes that control hair growth, or that it
changes the hair follicles.
ADVERTISING
Stimulating hair growth after chemo
Good
hair care can keep a person's hair healthy as it regrows.
Avoiding
excessive brushing or pulling, which can cause more hair loss, is advisable.
Styling with heating devices, such as flat irons or blow driers, can damage the
hair, as well, and can make it look thin and brittle or cause it to break.
The
use of drugs to encourage hair growth after chemotherapy is largely
experimental, and a person should expect mixed results if using these. Most
hair regrowth drugs are designed to treat other causes of hair loss rather than
chemotherapy.
People
are advised to discuss the risks and benefits of hair regrowth treatments with
their doctors if they have concerns.
A 2004 study of mice found that estrogen applied to
the scalp might increase hair regrowth.
A small 1996 study of 22 women tested whether the
well-known hair regrowth treatment, Minoxidil, could reverse
chemotherapy-related baldness.
More recent research also suggests Minoxidil might speed
hair regrowth, or even reduce hair loss during chemotherapy.
Click here for a range of
Minoxidil products online. Please note that this link will take you to an
external site.
Outlook
Choosing the correct wig or hairpiece may help while waiting for hair to regrow.
Losing
hair during chemotherapy can be upsetting, but the baldness is almost always
temporary.
The
correct wig or hairpiece can help as an individual waits for their hair to
regrow. Some organizations even donate wigs to people recovering from cancer.
There
is also a FDA-approved cold-cap that can help during chemo treatment for both
men and women. Known as the Digni-Cap, it works by cooling the scalp to reduce the
likelihood of alopecia in people with cancer.
As
hair regrows after chemotherapy, it can be a positive sign of a person's
improving health. However, people who have had cancer should be aware that it
is a sign of their recovery that may take a while to appear.
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