How to prevent hair loss on chemo

For many people diagnosed with cancer, hair loss on chemo is an unfortunate side-effect of the chemotherapy treatment. And although on the face of it, it may seem a small price to pay to stop the cancer, it can have an enormous effect on a patient’s mental wellbeing and ability to cope and recover from their treatment.

Oncologists are traditionally trained to focus on the medical aspects of the condition, and for them, hair loss on chemo is often way down on the agenda. However, increasingly, oncologists and their teams of nurse navigators are becoming more mindful of the importance of holistically treating the overall wellbeing of the patient – and not just the disease.

So, if losing your hair is worrying you, speak to your oncology team. They should be able to offer advice and, in many instances, signpost you to cold cap therapy, including Penguin Cold Caps.

Why do chemotherapy drugs result in hair loss?

Some types of chemotherapy are more likely to cause hair loss than others – so talk to your oncologist so you know what to expect from your specific drug regimen.

Chemotherapy drugs are designed to damage or kill cells that have a ‘fast division rate’, such as cancer cells. Unfortunately, other cells in the body also have a fast division rate, including your hair follicles. This similarity means that these cells are susceptible to chemotherapy drugs and this is what causes hair loss.

In most cases, hair loss on chemo begins within two to four weeks of starting chemotherapy and the degree of hair loss can vary, depending on the type and dose of your chemotherapy.

Is hair loss from chemo temporary?

Most of the time, hair loss on chemo is temporary and it will start to grow back within three to six weeks of finishing treatment. Some people find that their hair grows back in a different shade or texture – but over time this more often than not reverts to your original hair type.

Wearing a cold cap during chemotherapy can dramatically reduce your hair loss. These are caps that are filled with a very cold gel, that you wear just before, during, and after your chemo infusion. They cool down your hair follicles and send them into a state of hibernation for a while, which stops them from absorbing the chemotherapy drugs coursing through your body.

Penguin Cold Cap patient stories

There is no better way to find out what it’s like than hearing from the people who have used Penguin Cold Caps to prevent hair loss on chemo. What’s more, many of our customers are so amazed at their results, they are happy for us to put you in touch to find out what it’s really like.