It's a very emotional subject for some but its one we have been meaning to cover on this site for some time now. Growing hair back after chemo can be a difficult and frustrating experience - this article covers a few of your options....
The Newer Drugs
There is little need to worry about growing hair back after chemo if you have been on some of the more recent drug programs. Unfortunately that is not the case with a lot of the older treatments out there - you still lose hair!
Depending on the drug, your hair may gradually thin before you lose it - or you may lose all your hair at once.
How Fast Will My Hair Return?
The rate of growing hair back after chemo differs a great deal between individuals. Most people's ( healthy ) hair grows at a rate of around half an inch every thirty days. This will differ slightly though after chemotherapy.
In a lot of cases as soon as the treatment is over there will be signs of a few hairs poking through. This usually results in small tight patches showing after about a fortnight. The treatment will take a LOT out of your body and the usual level of nutrients will be very low. This lack of nutrients is one of the contributing factors to the slow return/growth of the hair.
The hair will have a completely uneven feel to it unfortunately - coverage will not happen all at once! A lot of people report hair starting to appear before the treatment is finished but not usually at the front of the head. The general hair lines and crown of the head seem to be the slowest movers when growing hair back after chemo.
Growing Hair Back After Chemo - Caring For The Hair
As we touched upon above the hair that grows after treatment is often lacking in protein and nutrients. It is in a very weak state so it is best you go easy on it. If you decide to use a brush during styling then be very easy and gentle with it. Extra care should also be taken when using a blow dryer to - keep it on a nice low heat!
A lot of stylists will insist on constant trimming when growing hair back after chemo. This allows them to get rid of the unhealthy damaged hair and promote newer, healthier hair.
There is little need to worry about growing hair back after chemo if you have been on some of the more recent drug programs. Unfortunately that is not the case with a lot of the older treatments out there - you still lose hair!
Depending on the drug, your hair may gradually thin before you lose it - or you may lose all your hair at once.
How Fast Will My Hair Return?
The rate of growing hair back after chemo differs a great deal between individuals. Most people's ( healthy ) hair grows at a rate of around half an inch every thirty days. This will differ slightly though after chemotherapy.
In a lot of cases as soon as the treatment is over there will be signs of a few hairs poking through. This usually results in small tight patches showing after about a fortnight. The treatment will take a LOT out of your body and the usual level of nutrients will be very low. This lack of nutrients is one of the contributing factors to the slow return/growth of the hair.
The hair will have a completely uneven feel to it unfortunately - coverage will not happen all at once! A lot of people report hair starting to appear before the treatment is finished but not usually at the front of the head. The general hair lines and crown of the head seem to be the slowest movers when growing hair back after chemo.
Growing Hair Back After Chemo - Caring For The Hair
As we touched upon above the hair that grows after treatment is often lacking in protein and nutrients. It is in a very weak state so it is best you go easy on it. If you decide to use a brush during styling then be very easy and gentle with it. Extra care should also be taken when using a blow dryer to - keep it on a nice low heat!
A lot of stylists will insist on constant trimming when growing hair back after chemo. This allows them to get rid of the unhealthy damaged hair and promote newer, healthier hair.
Shampoos
Not all out there are going to be ideal for you when growing hair back after chemo. A lot of 'top of the line' shampoos contain a vast amount of sulphates which are not exactly friendly to new hair. shampoo choices
Try and use shampoos that are based on elements from natural plants like jojoba. These plant oils will feel quite familiar to your scalp and will aid the conditioning process. There are a number of modern shampoos out there that contain a decent amount of protection against the sun. It would be a good idea to try some of these out as your hair will be effected by bad environmental processes when growing back.
When visiting a stylist or hairdresser make sure you alert them to the treatment you have been through. They may well change the course of action/hair care products they were going to use on you if they get the full picture.
Take Care of Your Scalp
Your scalp plays an important part when growing hair back after chemo so you must take extra care of it. After the treatment you may well find that your scalp is very dry and sensitive. You need something that will introduce some nutrients back into the scalp and start protecting it a little more.
Look out for Folic Acid products as they are good for supplying the B Vitamin group to the hair and skin. As well as this you may want to invest in some Camomile or Aloe Vera - both of which offer anti-inflammatory and soothing agents. You should also be looking for some ingredients that contain antioxidants like green tea or Fennel.
Your Opinions or Experiences
If you have had any experience with growing hair back after chemo or you have a worthwhile opinion on the subject please join in with the discussion by using the comment section below. We always welcome relevant contributions but please don't spam!