Hair Loss Causes: Chemotherapy Medications

Most of us—rather, all of us—are personally attached to our hair. We cringe at the mere thought of losing our luxurious head of hair.In fact, most of us could not fathom the idea of becoming bald or hairless, leaving us frightened and distressed when we start losing our crowning glory.However, if you are diagnosed with cancer and is about to undergo chemotherapy, the risk of losing your hair is very real.Indeed, chemotherapy is among the many hair loss causes and hair thinning problems. It is one of the most traumatic side effects a cancer patient will undergo.How does chemotherapy affect the growth of the hair?Chemotherapy drugs are potent medications which attack rapidly growing cancer cells. However, these chemicals also attack other rapidly growing cells in the body—such as those found on the hair follicles, eyelashes, eyebrows, armpits, pubic area, and other body parts.Most of the time, chemotherapy-induced hair loss is temporary. Once the treatment is complete, the hair will grow back 3 to 10 months after the cancer therapy. Note, however, that the quality, shade, and texture of the new hair strands will differ from the original hair.The new hair strands will look finer, curlier, or straighter than they were before. They may also be of a different shade, usually mixed with graying strands, until the cells that control the pigment of the hair will begin to function properly again.How to deal with chemotherapy-induced hair loss?Since no treatment will guarantee that your hair won’t fall off during or after the chemotherapy sessions, the best way to deal with the imminent hair loss is to plan ahead and focus on becoming comfortable with your appearance—during and after your cancer treatment.Whether you choose to wear wigs, hairpieces, or scarves, it mostly depends upon your preference. However, bear in mind that no matter what you choose, what makes you most comfortable is the right decision.In the end, you must remember that although losing your hair after chemotherapy is not easy, there are ways to cope with the condition. All you need to do is try to work it all out—stay strong, confident, and positive—that’s the secret in dealing with chemotherapy-induced hair loss.