Hair loss is one of the most widely known side effects of cancer treatment. Chemotherapy and radiation after all are extremely intense, with their role attacking cancer cells also impacting the health of other fast-growing cells, like your hair follicles.
Chemotherapy disrupts the lifecycle of hair, which is why so many cancer patients experience partial hair loss, thinning or total baldness. You don’t have to take cancer-related hair loss as a given however. There are ways to reduce hair loss during cancer treatment, here we explore just one of them.
Scalp cooling is just that. It uses low temperatures to reduce blood flow to the scalp and make those blood vessels even smaller, preventing certain chemotherapy medications from having a negative impact on the follicles within.
There are two types of scalp cooling treatments to explore – refrigerated cooling and cold gel caps. Both use a wearable cap to cool the scalp dramatically, the only difference being that the cold gel caps are filled with frozen matter (similar to an ice pack) while the cooling system provides a continuous flow of liquid coolant which circulates the cap to cool the scalp underneath.
The research conducted so far certainly suggests so. We’ll let Healthline reveal the findings of one major study:
“In one study conducted on women with breast cancer, more than 50 percent of the women who received scalp cooling during their chemo treatment kept most or all of their hair. All of the women who didn’t get scalp cooling experienced hair loss. Many of these studies also show that scalp cooling is most successful for early stage forms of breast and solid tumour cancer.”
Further research is needed to prove just how effective scalp cooling is for the reduction of cancer-related hair loss. The treatment is however considered safe and generally effective. It is also suitable for any hair type. It’s recommended that you loosen tight hairstyles like weaves and braids to avoid unnecessary strain on the hair.
It is important to note that scalp cooling is only used to reduce the risk of hair loss on the scalp. You may still experience hair loss and thinning on the face or other parts of the body.
Not all individuals undergoing cancer treatment will be suitable for scalp cooling. Scalp cooling only provides results with certain chemotherapy medication.
Scalp cooling is not suitable for those who have blood cancer or people undergoing continuous treatment via a chemotherapy pump. Some hospitals don’t give the option to use scalp cooling during treatment at all. People with liver issues should avoid scalp cooling too.
There are several side effects of scalp cooling that are worth noting. Patients may experience shivering, drowsiness, shallow breathing or a lower heart rate, especially if they are sensitive to cold.
If you are a suitable candidate for scalp cooling, you will wear your cooling cap before and during chemotherapy treatment, and for some time after. Most have to wear their cold caps for up to 45 minutes before chemotherapy treatment begins.
The cold cap may feel heavy during initial use, which can result in discomfort and headaches. You can take a mild painkiller to minimise these side effects. Enjoying a hot beverage, wearing warm clothes and using a cosy blanket can also boost those comfort levels during treatment.
Is scalp cooling unsuitable for you? Or perhaps you’d prefer to avoid the side effects mentioned above and go without scalp cooling? Our wigs provide great alternatives if you are affected by cancer-related hair loss. Browse our complete collection today right here.
