Chemotherapy Hair Loss

What is Chemotherapy Hair Loss?

Chemotherapy Hair Loss is directly induced by pills and chemical treatments for a disease. Even taking an Aspirin is a form of chemotherapy. Some types of potent medications can cause hair loss. Most cases of chemotherapy are used for treating cancer and that?s what we are going to focus here.

How Chemotherapy causes hair loss?

As you know, chemotherapy is a regimen of medications intending to treat or kill a specific disease like cancer. Certain chemotherapy medications are designed to kill the cancerous cells and it can as well kill rapid growing cells like our hair follicles.

Will I lose all my hair?

Well that really depends on your condition. If you are taking high energy doses of chemotherapy, the chances of you losing all your hair is high. In some cases, you might not even lose any hair due to chemotherapy. It?s good to ask your doctor to see whether a specific medication can cause hair loss.

Will my hair grow back?

Now that is an important question. In most cases, you can regain back your hair after chemotherapy. However, do not expect your hair to grow back overnight.

You have to remember your hair can only grow half an inch a month. If you have long hair (more than 10 inches) you won?t see it back for at least 1 to 2 years! So during this time if you have lost all your hair, I do advise to cope and live with hair loss for now. Survive it. (That?s what this website is all about anyway!)

What are the Treatments available?

If you are facing Chemotherapy Hair Loss, there aren?t really any good treatments available to get back your hair because it either grows back up or it doesn?t. Though there are still methods to solve this.

The best solution, know what you can expect from chemotherapy hair loss and prepare for it.If you know you are going to go for chemo,

• get a wig (I can recommend some nice ones here)
• scarves are good options too because they are more fashionable
• make sure you don?t perm your hair or do any coloring
• it?s best to cut your hair short and tidy so it wont be too obvious when you are losing hair.

Find Wigs and Scarves Recommendations in our Wigs and Hair Pieces Page.

Some Personal Tips

Though I have not been through chemotherapy, I have seen relatives going through such an ordeal. It is totally devastating and it takes a strong heart to get through it. Been extremely stressed because of the condition and also faced with secondary problems like hair loss, its really not easy going through it.

What I can say its best to accept it if you have chemotherapy hair loss. Most important is to get through chemo and live a quality life. Get support from your family and friends. Be strong. If you really cannot get your hair back, accept it. It?s cool to look bald too!