Introduction
The chemotherapy aims to kill the cancer cells. Cancer cells are fast dividing cells. Many chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer act not only on the fast-dividing cancer cells but also on other fast-dividing cells.
The hair root cells belong to the fast-dividing cells along with the immune cells, mucous membrane cells and other cells. Therefore, one of the side effects of chemotherapy is hair loss. Especially the scalp hairs are affected.
This has to do with the fact that about 90% of all hair root cells are in the sensitive division phase. This phase is particularly susceptible to disorders. Consequently, the drugs used in chemotherapy can destroy the cells in this phase.
Other body hairs grow more slowly. Therefore, for example, eyelashes, eyebrows and other body hair are only affected in 10-20% of cases. After the treatment, the hair usually grows back again.
When do the hairs start to grow again ?
The hair begins to grow back again when the chemotherapeutic agents in the body have been broken down. At first, a fluff usually grows. As a rule of thumb, the hair grows about 1 cm per month.
This can vary individually. The head hair can be different in appearance and shape than before chemotherapy. Sometimes curly hair grows back at first.
These curls can last for years in some cases. In other cases, straight hair grows back directly, if the head hair was previously straight. In other patients, this curly hair growth does not occur at all.
Sometimes the hair color is also changed. Usually, 3 months after the last chemotherapy, the hair on the head is already so long that many patients do without their headgear. The body hair needs a little longer. In very, very rare exceptional cases, no hair grows back at all after chemotherapy.
What can I do to make the hair grow faster again?
There are various recommendations and testimonials about products that are supposed to accelerate hair growth. It is controversially discussed whether this is actually the case. Some authors recommend birch water.
This should be massaged regularly onto the scalp. Other people affected use Plantur 39® Caffeine Shampoo. Some authors recommend the commercial product Regaine®.
It contains the active ingredient Minoxidil. These products may generally support hair growth. Whether or not the hair really grows faster with these products remains individual and has not been scientifically proven in a uniform manner.
Experience reports show that the products have a positive effect on the waiting time for hair growth and a positive effect on the subjectively assessable quality of the regrowing hair. What you can do above all is to be patient. However, if it helps to bridge this time to apply certain remedies, there is usually nothing to be said against it.
In addition, good scalp care can indirectly contribute to faster hair growth. Because if the scalp is impure, i.e. pimples or other skin phenomena on the scalp, hair growth can be impaired. The reason for this is that pimples, scaling or other skin changes stand in the way of newly growing hair. The hair cannot penetrate to the scalp surface at these places. If problems with the scalp occur, a medical consultation and treatment is recommended.
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