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The absence of hair appears in the minds of others as something like a business card of a person with cancer.
Alopecia – pathological partial or complete hair loss on the head, face and / or other parts of the body, indeed, is one of the most common side effects of chemotherapy, however, not all chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss, and the reaction of patients to them is very individual.
In addition, modern drugs are more advanced than anticancer drugs of previous generations, and have a less dramatic effect on the human body.
With radiation therapy, hair loss occurs only in areas directly exposed to radiation.
Why Hair Loss During Chemotherapy
The essence of chemotherapy is to slow down or stop the division of tumor cells. They grow and divide much faster and more chaotically than healthy cells, involving the surrounding healthy tissues in the pathological process. A number of chemotherapy drugs have an effect not only on tumor cells, but also on the cells of the hair follicles, which are characterized by relatively rapid growth.
Depending on the type of medication, hair loss may begin within a few days of starting therapy, or after one or two full courses. Sometimes the hair does not fall out, but becomes very thin, dry and brittle.
Hair loss can occur in patches or all over the body, but the greatest emotional discomfort, especially for women, is the loss of hair on the head, as well as eyebrows and eyelashes. The fear of losing beauty and femininity is sometimes so great that patients refuse chemotherapy, thereby endangering their health and even life.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF HAIR LOSS AFTER CHEMOTHERAPY?
First of all, do not despair, as this is not forever. Fortunately, with rare exceptions, the problem of lack of hair is temporary, after the end of the course of treatment, they grow back. For those few months, while the hairline is being restored, you can choose a suitable wig or headdress that does not tighten the head and provides sufficient skin ventilation.
When does hair start to grow after chemotherapy?
It is very difficult to predict exactly when hair starts to grow after the end of chemotherapy courses. It all depends on the type of drug, the number of courses and duration of treatment, as well as the characteristics of the patient’s body.
On average, the recovery process begins after 4 months.
Sometimes the treatment turns out to be lengthy, and even in the process of therapy, the hair begins to grow back, but it will be weak, dry, brittle, requiring careful treatment. About a year after chemotherapy, with proper care of the hair and scalp, you can count on the return of the old hairstyle. Although, it is possible that the new hair will be significantly different from the previous one.
Why Curly or Gray Hair Can Grow After Chemo
The color and structure of the hair after chemotherapy can change, and the changes can be either temporary or permanent. Many patients note that newly growing hair is stiffer, often previously straight hair begins to curl. Pigmentation may change or depigmentation (gray hair) may occur.
Given the genetic characteristics, hair type and chemotherapy drugs administered, the attending physician can suggest whether the patient is expecting alopecia and what changes can occur with the newly growing hair subsequently. However, this will only be a forecast with relative accuracy, since the reaction of the human body is always individual.
When can you dye your hair after chemotherapy?
In the process of therapy, when the effect of chemicals on the body is already great, hair coloring should be refrained from.
In extreme cases, patients can use natural dyes (henna, basma, etc.), moreover, such staining should be done a week before and a week after the end of the course.
Natural paints remain the most preferred during the rehabilitation period, and even after its completion. The less chemical compositions containing ammonia and hydrogen peroxide affect the hair, the more likely it is to quickly restore the hairstyle and regain self-confidence.
highly desirable don’t change your hair color and use tint products that correct the color by 1-2 tones and are washed off with water after a short time. Also at home, you can slightly change the tone of your hair with the help of folk remedies (chamomile decoction, onion peel, etc.). In addition to the coloring effect, such natural decoctions have a caring effect on the hair and scalp.
If necessary, resort to professional hair coloring in the salon, preference should be given to paints, based on vegetable oils.
With a cardinal change in color, straightening or perm, you should wait at least a year to give the body enough time to recover.
How to speed up hair growth after chemotherapy
Contrary to popular belief, ultra-short haircuts or shavings do not speed up hair growth. Hair growth largely depends on individual characteristics and the state of the body. Even in healthy people, hair grows at different rates, especially since it is difficult to predict the situation when fighting a malignant tumor. There is no universal miracle cure that guarantees immediate hair restoration after chemotherapy, but careful care of the scalp and hair undoubtedly contributes to the fastest regeneration of hair follicles.
It is recommended to seek advice from a trichologist. The specialist will tell you how to more effectively restore hair after chemotherapy. The complex of restorative measures may include drugs and vitamin complexes.
Folk remedies also give a good effect, for example, masks with vitamin-rich vegetable oils: burdock, grape, olive.
Useful Tricks
- Do a self-massage of the head with a moisturizer. Every day for 2-3 minutes, massage the head with gentle circular movements from the back of the neck to the top of the head, repeating the procedure several times if desired.
- Use a gentle cleansing shampoo, for example, for sensitive scalp and damaged hair. You can also use nourishing masks or shampoos for brittle and weakened hair.
- Wear a wig, turban, or scarf if your hair is too short and you feel uncomfortable bareheaded. They allow the scalp to breathe and do not slow down hair growth.
- Wash your hair with warm water using mild products, do not rub with a towel, but gently blot and dry naturally without using a hair dryer.
- Do not tighten your hair with elastic bands and hairpins; Comb your hair with a sparse comb or soft baby brush.
- Wait a few months before gelling or waxing. It takes time to restore the health of fragile hair.
Doctors and hairdressers are ready to help you at every stage: from the selection of a wig to the moment of hair growth. Thanks to their recommendations, you will overcome all the difficulties associated with changes in the structure and color of the hair.