




Why does chemotherapy cause hair loss?






What should you expect?

When will your hair grow back?




Does chemo result in permanent hair loss?
Can hair loss be prevented?
How to make the best of it
Before treatment
During treatment
After treatment
Stages of hair growth after chemo | Growing hair after chemo | Chemotherapy hair loss timeline
- 2–3 weeks: your Light hair forms.
- 1–2 months: your Thicker hair starts growing.
- 2–3 months: An inch of your hair may have grown.
- 6 months: Some 2–3 inches of your hair have grown.
- 12 months: your hair may have grown 4–6 inches.
14 Things to Know About Managing Chemotherapy Hair Loss | chemotherapy hair loss prevention
- Not all chemotherapy causes hair loss:-



- Scalp cooling caps might help prevent hair loss




- A short haircut might make a difference
- A variety of head coverings are available

- Some health insurance plans cover wigs
- Talk to your doctor about hair loss:
Not all medication is taken during chemo treatment cause hair loss. If you want to make your hair loss less scary, You can talk to your doctor about what will really happen.
- Go easy on your hair:
- Take care of your scalp:
After losing your hair, You might be feeling on your scalp itchy and tingling sensation.
- Minoxidil:

Using minoxidil on your scalp does not stop hair fall, however, it been proven to hurry hair growth in breast most cancer suffers who’ve misplaced their hair, It could even delay the loss.
- Talk about your feelings:

During treatment or after treatment you might be feeling angry, depressed, or embarrassed about your hair loss.
- Connect with a chemo support group(1):
They Help you to feel better, more hopeful, and not so alone, They Give you a chance to talk about your feelings and work through them, They Help you deal with practical problems, such as problems at work or school.
- Rest easy:
Try to wear a soft cap or turban on your head, It helps you to collect loose hair as it falls out.
- Make the most out of your appearance:

You can buy beauty products or a new pair of earrings or a pretty, colorful scarf.
- Be patient:
Do not worry about this, Your hair starts growing under 4 to 6 weeks after you finished chemo.
Many times, your hair grows in different color or texture, but this is temporary. Please be patient.
Diet tips to keep hair healthy during chemotherapy
- Try to eat Dark leafy greens during chemo and also try to eat Swiss chard, spinach, and other dark leafy greens.
This can be very helpful for your hair because It will give you vitamins A and C which are very important for your hair during chemo.
- Try to eat Salmon (choose wild Alaskan salmon) during chemo.
This can be very helpful for your hair scalp because It will give you Omega-3 fatty acids and protein which are very important for your hair scalp during chemo.
- Try to eat Beans and legumes during chemo.
This can be very helpful for your growth because It will give you iron, biotin, zinc, protein which are very important for your hair growth during chemo.
- Try to eat Nuts, Walnuts, Cashews, almonds, and pecans during chemo.
This can be very helpful for your hair scalp because it will give you vitamins and minerals, omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linoleic acid, zinc which are very important for your hair scalp in during chemo.
- Try to eat Eggs during chemo. It will give you protein as well as biotin, helping prevent dry, weak, and brittle hair.
- Try to eat Yogurt, Spinach, Broccoli, Garlic, Red bell peppers, Ginger, Citrus fruits, Turmeric, Sunflower seeds, Fruits and fruit juices, Fresh seasonal vegetables in during chemo, eat daily to boost your immunity. Avoid consumption of processed, packaged, and junk foods.
Impact of vitamins, supplements, and diet on cancer treatment-related hair loss
What are the common side effects of chemo? | 1st chemo treatment side effects

- Fatigue, Hair loss, Easy bruising and bleeding, Infection
- Anemia (low red blood cell counts), Nausea and vomiting, Appetite changes, Constipation
- Diarrhea, Mouth, tongue, and throat problems such as sores and pain with swallowing
- Peripheral neuropathy or other nerve problems, such as numbness, tingling, and pain
- Skin and nail changes such as dry skin and color change
- Urine and bladder changes and kidney problems, Weight changes
- Chemo brain, which can affect concentration and focus, Mood changes
- Changes in libido and sexual function, Fertility problems
Which chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss?
- Alkylating : Ctoxan or neosar (cyclophosphamide), Ifex(ifosfamide), Myleran or Busulfex(busulphan), Thioplex(thiotepa), Hexalen(altretamine), paraplatin(carboplatin).
- Antitumor antibiotics:- Cosmegen(dactinomycin), Adriamycin or Doxil (doxorubicin), Idamycin(idrubicin).
- Topoisomerase inhibitors:- Vepesid(etoposide), Camptosar(irinotecan).
- Antimicrotubule agents:- Taxol(paclitaxel), Taxotere(docetaxel), Ellence(epirubicin), Lxempra(lxabepilone), Marqibo or Vincasar(vincristine), Alocrest or Navelbine(vinorelbine).
- Antimetabolites:- Efudex(fluorouracil), Gemzar(gemcitabine).
Radiation therapy and hair loss

- How can I prevent my hair from falling out during chemo?
- What percentage of chemo patients lose their hair?
- How many days after chemo does hair fall out?
- Is it better to shave your head during chemo?
- Does hair grow back GREY after chemo?
- Can chemotherapy cause permanent hair loss?
- Does hair grow back thinner after chemo?
- Does everyone get sick from chemotherapy?
- Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Chemotherapy and hair loss: What to expect during treatment.
mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/chemotherapy/in-depth/hair-loss/art-20046920 - Napolitano E. (2014). What can I do to cope with hair loss due to cancer treatment?
mskcc.org/blog/what-can-i-do-cope-hair-loss-due-treatment - NCI Staff. (2017). FDA clears wider use of a cooling cap to reduce hair loss during chemotherapy.
cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2017/fda-cooling-cap-chemotherapy - Rugo HS, et al. (2017). Scalp cooling with adjuvant/neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer and the risk of scalp metastases: systematic review and meta-analysis. DOI: 10.1007/s10549-017-4185-9
- Shin H, et al. (2014). Efficacy of interventions for the prevention of chemotherapy‐induced alopecia: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. DOI:
doi.org/10.1002/ijc.29115
- Coping with hair loss. (2018).
https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/hair-loss/coping-with-hair-loss.html - Food and Drug Administration. (2017). FDA clears expanded use of the cooling cap to reduce hair loss during chemotherapy [News release].
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-clears-expanded-use-cooling-cap-reduce-hair-loss-during-chemotherapy - Getting help for hair loss. (n.d.).
https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/cancer-control/en/booklets-flyers/getting-help-for-hair-loss.pdf - Kluger, N., et al. (2012). Permanent scalp alopecia related to breast cancer chemotherapy by sequential fluorouracil/epirubicin/cyclophosphamide (FEC) and docetaxel: A prospective study of 20 patients.
https://academic.oup.com/annonc/article/23/11/2879/234091 - Trüeb, R. M. (2009). Chemotherapy-induced alopecia [Abstract].
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/fmc/scms/2009/00000028/00000001/art00003 - Watanabe, T., et al. (2019). A multicenter survey of temporal changes in chemotherapy-induced hair loss in breast cancer patients.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326423/ - When will your hair grow back? (2019).
http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/hair_skin_nails/regrowth
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https://skinkraft.com/blogs/articles/chemotherapy-hair-loss#:~:text=Though%20chemotherapy%20may%20cause%20hair,your%20cancer%20like%20a%20warrior. – Chemotherapy Hair Loss: Science, Timeline & Ways To Control
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https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/chemotherapy/in-depth/hair-loss/art-20046920 – Chemotherapy and hair loss: What to expect during treatment
7 Things to Know About Managing Chemotherapy Hair Loss – https://www.healthline.com/health/cancer/managing-chemo-hair-loss
When does hair grow back after chemo? – https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319446