Intensive hair loss after chemotherapy is one of its negative effects. In case of a favorable outcome of the disease, the follicles begin to recover approximately 6 weeks after all the procedures have been completed. Since this is long enough, there are certain ways to speed up and improve this process.
Changes in the body
Hair loss after chemotherapy is one of the most common consequences of taking drugs. Before treatment, oncologists are obliged to warn the patient about the likelihood of this side effect. At the end of the first course, the process of hair restoration after chemotherapy passes almost imperceptibly. Intense baldness predominantly begins after the second. At this moment, the hair structure is significantly thinning and loses its former strength, and there is also the appearance of significant sensitivity. This problem occurs not only on the head, but throughout the body.
Such troubles begin to occur due to lesions of both malignant neoplasms and follicles.
What kind of chemotherapy causes hair loss?
According to well-known doctors in the field of oncology, not all drugs adversely affect the condition of the hairline.
Medicines that are intended to protect the body from the growth of tumors are the main cause of the loss of curls. For example, the drug "Cytoxan", which is used to cure breast cancer, is most often the basis for thinning hair. "Adriamycin" begins to spoil the beauty of hair during the first three weeks, after which it completely falls out. "Taxol" leads almost immediately to complete baldness.
Medicines of this purpose have a cytostatic effect, which helps to suspend cell division. They inhibit the active reproduction of malignant embryos, as well as the division of follicles. To determine the level of baldness, it is necessary to calculate and evaluate the dosage, the characteristics of the composition of the drugs, the number of procedures, as well as the age of the patient.
How to reduce the problem with treatment?
At the moment, there is no consensus on how to reduce the loss of curls. Hair restoration after chemotherapy is an important field in science, which scientists are engaged in, but it has not yet been fully studied, and it has not developed tools that can help one hundred percent.
Oncologists often carefully communicate with patients about this problem and try to convince them of the importance of defeating the disease and returning to normal life. However, research is still beginning to yield results. At the moment, modern drugs have become less toxic than their predecessors, which were used ten years ago. Medications are also available that can help reduce side effects from such a powerful effect on the body. Some scientists believe that remedies that can stop the loss do exist. They recommend rubbing Minoxidil into the scalp. Initially, it was created to combat blood pressure, but as a result of research, its additional positive properties were revealed.
Today it is the only drug to deal with such a problem. But still, you should not think that a solution has been found, since the medicine does not show a positive result for one hundred percent. But its ability to improve hair restoration after chemotherapy has been proven. It should be noted that "Minoxidil" is not a cheap medicine, and also it has a huge number of side effects. Without consultation and the appointment of doctors, its use is unacceptable.
To reduce baldness, doctors recommend using special cooling gels or ice. This is due to the fact that at the time of lowering the temperature, the blood supply to the follicles decreases, and they begin to absorb less medicine. Due to this, the number of damaged hair cells is reduced, and loss is slightly reduced.
Prevention
Hair restoration after chemotherapy is a rather laborious task, therefore it is necessary to reduce the harmful effect.
- When using modern means, precipitation is often stopped by hypothermia - the effect of low temperatures. This method is based on minimizing the supply of hair follicles with blood, thereby chemical components reach the follicles with less intensity.
- There is a special helmet that contains a cooling gel inside. This device is worn on the head before the start of the procedure and remains on it for another thirty minutes after the end of the chemical exposure. The effectiveness of this method is 70%.
- Hair care after chemotherapy involves the use of a comb with soft and frequent teeth, as the curls after the preparations become very brittle and brittle.
- Washing is carried out rarely and only in warm water using vegetable shampoos.
- To protect the head, you must always wear a tight tape or hat.
- Masks based on ceramides and proteins give a visible effect.
- It is necessary to exclude the effect of a hair dryer, tongs and ironing.
- The head needs to be protected from extreme temperatures (heat, frost).
Today, these are general recommendations for hair restoration after chemotherapy. The fair sex should not be nervous and worried about this, because life is still beautiful, and the lack of curls can be masked with fashion accessories, namely wigs and scarves.
Growth management
Regardless of how a person cares for hair, the speed of their appearance is from 0.5 to 1.2 cm per month. Only the level of their loss can be taken under control. Through simple manipulations, you can reduce unwanted baldness and thereby get a more attractive appearance.
- At the initial stage, when the curls are just starting to grow, it is very important to use moisturizers. This is done to alleviate the appearing itching that occurs during a glimpse of new strands.
- Hair restoration after chemotherapy includes the obligatory wearing of stoles, scarves and wigs. This is done to protect exposed skin from sunburn. Hats are best worn in the initial period, since at that time the hock is already becoming very sensitive.
- The first hairs that can be seen, most often grow quite thin. In order to eliminate this problem, it is better to cut or shave them.
- After the first improvements, the curls must be treated very carefully and carefully so as not to damage them.
- How to restore hair after chemotherapy is now more clear, but what to do if the growth of curls occurs unevenly or in shreds?
Shaving is perfect for this. Thanks to this procedure, the next time you can achieve a more uniform distribution. It should be noted that during the initial appearance, hair can also fall out. However, there is no need to panic, as the hair will soon grow back. Also, do not be upset if recovery begins to linger, because for each patient this period takes an individual amount of time.
Hair strengthening after chemotherapy
Quality care is of great importance during the treatment period, as well as in the process of remission. It makes sense to start a variety of recovery procedures immediately after completing the course of therapy, since the detrimental effect of the drugs will kill all the necessary components that will be introduced into the body.
In order for the hair to become stronger at the end of therapy, you need to contact the trichologist's office. The scalp will be examined by a specialist, and the curls will be examined with a microcamera. Such procedures will be useful for the further selection of drugs and treatment. It is also possible to undergo peeling, which will not only cleanse the damage, but will also stimulate active blood circulation.
In such offices, special procedures are carried out that are carried out using the PUVA lamp. It uses ultraviolet radiation with various spectra. Using nanophoresis, you can enter the active substances deep into the skin, which penetrate there under the influence of an electric field. With mesotherapy, beneficial components are injected directly into the skin.
Such procedures, compared with medicines, quickly and effectively revitalize and saturate the bulbs with oxygen.
It is impossible to give an unambiguous answer to the question of how quickly hair is restored after chemotherapy, since each of them happens individually. To accelerate this process, you need to protect the curls as much as possible from the harmful effects of factors that can weaken or destroy them.
Masks
Hair masks after chemotherapy are most often used as a firming and stimulating agent that accelerates the appearance of new hair. There are a considerable number of diverse recipes that focus on maintaining health and active growth. In case of loss of hair follicles, it is recommended to use formulations having the following components.
- Depending on the thickness of the cover, you need to take one tablespoon of onion juice and add the same amount of castor oil, tincture of calendula and chilli pepper to it, then mix everything thoroughly. Next, one egg yolk is sent to this mass and again everything is whipped. Let stand for 15 minutes, after which add 1 tsp. cognac and honey. Very important for such a recipe is the use of onion juice, and not its pulp. This is done to protect the curls from the appearance of an unpleasant characteristic smell. The prepared mixture is applied to dry hair, after which it is necessary to put on a hat. The duration of such a session is one hour.
- To activate the processes of high-quality growth, a tea-based mask is used. Only with the help of such simple components we again return to its former beauty. Everyone who faces this problem should know how to restore hair after chemotherapy based on this mixture, since the mask is easy to prepare and is very effective. Such raw materials help improve follicular nutrition and stimulate the flow of blood to the scalp. In addition, the acid-base balance is markedly increased. To prepare, you need 250 grams of brewing black tea, which must be filled with half a bottle of vodka and infused in a cool and dark place for 2 hours. After preparation, the composition must be carefully filtered. The pulp is ejected, and the resulting tincture is poured into a convenient container and rubbed into the head. Then we wrap ourselves in a plastic bag for about 1 hour. After the end of time, the hair is rinsed with plenty of water using shampoo.
Vitamin Complexes
There are many ways to restore hair after chemotherapy, but the use of trace elements and other beneficial substances is basic. It is not recommended to take such complexes at the time of the treatment itself, since the effect of the drugs on the sick body may decrease. The main compounds for improving and regenerating follicles are vitamins of group B. In second place are complexes A, E, F and C. The balance of such components can be adjusted by proper and balanced nutrition.
- In order to replenish the vitamins of group B, it is necessary to eat legumes, red meat, egg yolk, buckwheat, nuts, dairy products, oranges, liver, tomatoes, citrus and brewer's yeast.
- Thanks to vitamin A, you can maintain and restore the structure of the hair, as well as improve the excretory ability of the sebaceous glands. The treasure of this component is the liver, carrots, butter and eggs.
- Vitamin E stimulates and moisturizes follicles. This element works best with folic acid. It is present in foods such as lard, cucumbers and sunflower seeds.
- Vitamin F can help prevent hair loss, at least in part. Therefore, it is indispensable in the period after chemotherapy. Contained in vegetable oil and walnuts.
- Ingestion of vitamin C fills the follicles with oxygen. It is found in a large number of products, namely blackcurrant, citrus, red meat, fish oil, pomegranate, apple and grapes.
Phytotherapy
Hair restoration after chemotherapy at home is an important factor to achieve the desired result. One of the most important areas that will help solve the problem is improving the blood supply to the skin.
This can be achieved by using formulations that are based on capsaicin compounds. The highest content of this substance is in red hot pepper. A very common tool in the fight against the problem is the use of a patch with the slurry applied to it from this product. The onion mass, which has a warming property, is not so tough, but also effective.
Many people wonder how to grow hair after chemotherapy. For this, you can also apply light massage treatments on the head. With such manipulations, the integument is warmed up, which helps to get a new blood flow. Effective are massage complexes, which are held with your fingers by light stroking. It is recommended that they be carried out long enough to steam the skin well.
To obtain vitamin supplements, you can rub sea buckthorn extract or olive, grape and nettle oil. It is also very useful to combine the previous ingredients and the essential oils of ylang-ylang or jasmine. Active application should be carried out 1 hour before washing.
In folk medicine, you can find a wide variety of valuable recipes that help follicles to activate their performance.
Useful is the use of decoctions of flax seed, barley and oats. Particularly considered mushy formulations based on pharmacy chamomile, nettle and celandine. Good reviews can be heard about the mask of yolk and honey, which are combined in equal proportions. The composition is applied to the hair for at least 1 hour.
How to choose a wig
Before starting the chemotherapy procedure, it is recommended to visit a hairdresser and make a short haircut, then ask specialists to help in choosing a high-quality wig. The longer the woman’s hair, the greater the load on the follicles, so they must be shortened.
Some helpful suggestions:
- it is best to take a person close to you to the salon, as he will be able to help make a decision;
- often wearing such an accessory masks alopecia from others, so it is best to purchase a wig made of natural fiber;
- be careful at the time of fitting, the product must be tight and not move in different directions;
- Choose options that match your hairstyle;
- color is also recommended to choose the appropriate;
- special gels for fixation are on sale;
- cotton pads are recommended to prevent irritation and itching;
- during the fitting, you need to properly shake your head in different directions and bend over, this will help to make sure that wearing a wig will not bring discomfort;
- Avoid contact with hot objects and fire, as some models may change shape when heated.
Some women refuse to wear a wig, and prefer a variety of bandanas and scarves, as this method is perceived by others better. But the choice is only the patient.
Painting
Hair coloring after chemotherapy is possible 6 months after the end of treatment. It is not recommended to use such a procedure previously, since this adversely affects the immune system, and, as you know, it is already so weak. Due to profuse precipitation, pigments can also cause focal alopecia.
If the color change is carried out at the beginning of treatment, this will lead to severe thinning of the curls.For painting, you need to choose only a high-quality product, in which there are no carcinogens and other harmful components. The best option is a product based on natural ingredients.