Hair after chemotherapy

Hair after chemotherapy - what are the consequences for them of such a serious medical intervention in the mechanisms of the body's functioning as a course of therapy using potent chemicals, and how can you preserve their healthy natural appearance? This question is relevant for a large number of women who are prescribed chemotherapy treatment in connection with certain oncological diseases.

Hair loss is one of the inevitable consequences of such treatment, however, after the end of the course, the functions of the hair follicles gradually return to normal and hair growth resumes.

As a rule, the recovery processes begin to activate already after several weeks after the end of chemotherapy. At the same time, the hair may differ in changes in its structure. So, if before it was straight, now it can curl or become wavy. Hair after chemotherapy is restored within six months, during this time period its natural texture is restored.

A woman's positive psychological attitude is also very important. Many, in order to accept hair loss as a given, cut their hair short or shave their head completely bald even before starting chemotherapy.

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What chemotherapy causes hair loss?

According to medical experts in the field of oncology, not all drugs used in chemotherapy have such a detrimental effect on hair that leads to hair loss. To understand what leads to hair loss, let's consider what chemotherapy causes hair loss?

Drugs aimed at actively counteracting the progression of tumor neoplasms can cause either complete or partial hair loss.

The drug Cytoxan or cyclophosphamide, used during chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer, causes hair thinning and alopecia.

The consequences of using the drug Adriamycin (doxorubicin), indicated for the treatment of breast cancer and many internal organs, during the first 3 weeks of the course are manifested in thinning of the hair, and subsequently - in its complete loss.

Chemotherapy with pacletaxel, also known as Taxol, can cause your hair to fall out suddenly and all at once. That means you could wake up one morning and find yourself completely bald.

At the same time, the current level of development of medicinal chemical agents suggests the presence of drugs that have a strictly targeted effect on cells affected by pathological processes. Their use in chemotherapy almost completely eliminates the problem of hair loss from the list of side effects associated with such treatment.

In order to understand what chemotherapy causes hair loss, you should first understand the mechanisms of action of chemotherapy drugs. These are mainly active substances that have cytostatic properties, which means their ability to slow down or stop cell division processes.

Their action is directed at cells in a state of active division and reproduction. Since hair follicle cells also have such properties, they are also subject to the effect of stopping cell division produced by chemicals. As a result, alopecia occurs.

To assess the likelihood of hair loss during chemotherapy, the following criteria are relevant: the patient's age, dosage and specific features of the drugs used, the number of prescribed therapeutic courses, as well as the patient's hair type.

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Hair loss due to chemotherapy

Hair loss during chemotherapy is caused by the use of chemicals for such treatment, which mostly belong to the group of cytostatics and their action is manifested in the fact that they cause a stop in the processes of cell division. First of all, their action is directed at the most actively dividing cells. And since the hair follicles from which the growth of hair stems occurs are characterized by high activity of cell division, therefore, they are among the first to be exposed to the harmful effects of chemotherapy drugs, as a result of which such a side effect as hair loss occurs.

Hair begins to fall out after 2-3 weeks from the start of the treatment course. Based on the individual characteristics of the body, these terms may be earlier or, conversely, later.

As a rule, hair loss during chemotherapy does not pose a direct threat to health. The negative aspect of this phenomenon is mainly only the appearance of a psychological factor of anxiety of a woman regarding the condition of her hair. After all, as is known, women's hair is an important component of female beauty and attractiveness. In some cases, the degree of anxiety can be so high that such a risk of being left without a hairdo makes patients refuse such chemotherapy treatment.

Hair loss after chemotherapy

Hair loss after chemotherapy is one of the most common and widespread side effects of chemical drugs. Oncologists often advise patients that this side effect is highly likely to occur as a result of such treatment.

Hair does not fall out immediately after the first course, intensive hair loss mainly begins to occur during the second chemotherapy course. The hair structure becomes significantly thinner, and its sensitivity also increases. Hair loss processes occur throughout the body, involving the head and face, arms, legs, armpits and groin.

Hair loss is caused by damage to healthy tissues, including hair follicles, along with malignant neoplasms. Growth is inhibited and hair nutrition deteriorates.

Hair loss after chemotherapy differs from the same side effect that occurs as a result of X-ray treatment in that in the latter case, only the areas directly exposed to the radiation are exposed to negative effects. In therapeutic treatment with chemical drugs, the effects manifest themselves throughout the body.

When does hair fall out after chemotherapy?

Many of those who are prescribed treatment with medical chemicals wonder when hair loss occurs after chemotherapy?

It is impossible to say with certainty on what day from the beginning of such a course of treatment hair loss will begin. The processes occurring in the body, including those affecting the functioning of hair follicles, depend on the action of specific drugs used in chemotherapy. Individual characteristics of the body are also a significant factor.

In some patients, alopecia appears from the very beginning of the first chemotherapy procedures. In others, hair loss may progress to a lesser degree and be limited to partial hair loss and be only focal. There are cases where patients managed to partially preserve their hair.

And yet, it is not possible to completely avoid such a side effect when hair falls out after chemotherapy. According to statistics, complete baldness, one way or another, occurs on the 3rd or 4th week of the treatment course.

Not the least important factor is also the patient's psychological attitude in connection with the problem of hair loss. In order to maintain a healthy and optimistic frame of mind, it should be remembered that this phenomenon is temporary and after some time the hair growth processes will normalize.

When will hair grow back after chemotherapy?

This question is relevant primarily for women, because spectacular lush curls are an integral part of the beauty and attractiveness of every representative of the fair sex.

The processes of normalization of hair growth mainly occur in the period from 3 months to half a year after the end of the last course of treatment. During this time, the hair is restored to a sufficient extent so that the consequences of such a side effect are no longer too obvious.

In order to speed up the restoration of healthy hair growth functions, you can use appropriate drugs or traditional medicine. To a certain extent, the use of specialized mineral and vitamin complexes can help reduce the amount of hair loss and stimulate active growth of new ones. Here you should pay attention to such a nuance as the fact that they can be included in the list of contraindications for oncology. Therefore, the appropriateness and effectiveness of which should be consulted with your doctor.

Procedures to stimulate blood flow to the scalp can speed up the time when hair will grow back after chemotherapy. This effect is provided by pungent substances, such as capsaicin, which is contained in red pepper and its tincture.

Hair restoration after chemotherapy

Hair restoration after chemotherapy largely depends on the quality of blood supply to the scalp. Blood flow to the hair follicles, which in turn stimulates active hair growth processes, occurs due to the action of warming masks, which include hot pepper in combination with appropriate medicinal herbs.

A warming effect can also be achieved by using a mask made from fresh onions. It is prepared according to the following recipe. Mix the juice of 1 onion, olive oil (alternatively - castor or burdock) in the amount of 1-2 tablespoons, with a bottle of vitamin D3 in the form of a solution in oil and 1 tablespoon of shampoo. The resulting composition is applied to the hair and covered with plastic wrap. After 3-4 hours, wash off and rinse with water with the juice of 1 lemon.

A good warming effect is produced by a massage starting from the frontal and temporal lobes and moving to the occipital region. Here, however, it is necessary to note that the expediency of such a massage is justified only in case of complete hair loss. In cases

In case of focal alopecia, such massage effect on the scalp can cause loss of hair that remains after the end of chemotherapy treatment.

Hair restoration after chemotherapy is better due to the creation of an environment rich in vitamins and minerals. Intensive vitamin saturation of the scalp is provided by all kinds of vegetable oils, such as grape, nettle, olive, burdock. For greater effectiveness, it is recommended to use them in combination with essential oils of jasmine, ylang-ylang and rose. It should be noted that essential oils can cause allergic reactions, so before using them, it would be a good idea to conduct an allergy test.

Strengthening hair after chemotherapy

Proper hair care is of great importance during chemotherapy and the subsequent recovery period.

It makes sense to carry out any procedures aimed at strengthening hair after chemotherapy no earlier than after completing all courses of treatment. Since the continuing harmful effect of chemotherapy drugs on hair follicles will nullify all the restoration processes that have begun in them. The most appropriate and acceptable measure before the end of chemotherapy treatment is careful treatment of the scalp, the use of moisturizing creams and protection of hair from direct sunlight and other adverse environmental factors with a cotton scarf.

It is recommended that you wear a tightly tied headband or swimming cap at all times while indoors.

During the period of time during which hair restoration occurs, it is necessary to protect it as much as possible from any impacts that can weaken or damage it. Do not dry your hair with a hair dryer or use hot styling. Use only warm water to wash your hair, and choose the mildest shampoo possible.

Strengthening of hair after chemotherapy occurs as a result of taking decoctions of flaxseed, oats, rose hips, barley, etc. A beneficial effect is produced by the use of rinses based on herbal components, and in addition to this - masks from nettle, chamomile, horsetail, celandine, as well as a mask from propolis tincture.

Hair masks after chemotherapy

Hair masks after chemotherapy are used as a strengthening agent and as a way to stimulate and accelerate hair growth. There are a great many different recipes aimed at care, stimulation of growth and maintenance of hair health. Let's consider some of them.

So, in case of significant hair loss, it is advisable to use a mask with the following components.

One spoon (here and below - a teaspoon or a tablespoon, respectively, depending on how thick the hair is) of onion juice in combination with the same amount of castor oil, calendula tincture and hot pepper is mixed with one egg yolk. One spoon of honey and cognac is added to the resulting mixture.

An important note to this recipe is that in the preparation it is necessary to use only onion juice, and not its crushed pulp, in order to avoid the appearance of a characteristic odor in the hair.

The mask is applied to the head and a cap is put on. The procedure lasts one hour.

A mask with tea leaves can help to activate healthy hair growth processes. This recipe provides nutrition to hair follicles and stimulates blood flow to the scalp. In addition, the skin's fat and acid-base balance is optimized.

To use this hair mask after chemotherapy, 250 g of black tea leaves are poured with half a bottle of vodka and infused for 2 hours. After straining, the used tea leaves are thrown away, and the resulting composition is rubbed into the skin and the head is wrapped in cellophane film for one hour. After this time, everything needs to be washed off with water and shampoo.

How to grow hair after chemotherapy?

As the last course of chemotherapy treatment comes to an end, the question of how to grow hair after chemotherapy becomes increasingly relevant?

During the recovery period, special moisturizing agents are recommended for use. Rubbed into the scalp, they help reduce discomfort and eliminate unpleasant itching sensations.

One of these rubbing agents is a water solution with Minoxidil. As a result of its use, more active hair growth occurs, and the processes causing hair loss decrease in intensity.

To prevent hair loss, the practice of cooling the scalp with ice or special cooling gels is known. Due to the decrease in temperature, the hair follicles shrink in size, which to some extent prevents substances that can have a negative effect from getting into them during chemotherapy.

A positive aspect in connection with how to grow hair after chemotherapy is the reduction to a minimum, up to their complete elimination, of all kinds of adverse effects. It is advisable to refuse hair coloring and chemical perming for some time. It is also not recommended to use thermal devices for styling your hair. You should wash your hair only when it is dirty, with a shampoo that has a mild effect.

Hair coloring after chemotherapy

The problem of hair restoration is very relevant for women who have undergone treatment with chemicals, accompanied by such a side effect as hair loss. One of the factors of female beauty and attractiveness is hair color and the possibility of dyeing it.

Hair dyeing after chemotherapy can be started after six months from the end of the last course of treatment. It is not recommended to expose hair to such influence at an earlier time due to the fact that dyeing, as well as perming, can lead to weakening of immunity and increases the vulnerability of hair to unfavorable environmental factors. As a result, it is even possible to increase the intensity of hair loss, which can provoke the appearance of focal alopecia.

If chemotherapy was preceded by dyeing or chemical perming, the hair structure becomes thinner and more brittle.

Hair coloring after chemotherapy requires careful attention in choosing the appropriate dye for use. The best option is a dye that does not contain carcinogens, if possible - in the production of which only components of natural origin were used.