A Holistic Strategy for Preventing Chemotherapy - Induced Alopecia using Scalp Cooling Helmets to protect Hair Health During Cancer Treatment
Introduction: Chemotherapy often causes hair loss, which can be very upsetting and affect a person's self-esteem and social interactions, sometimes leading to treatment refusal. This hair loss happens because chemotherapy drugs damage hair follicles, which rely on blood supply from the scalp's arteries. Scalp cooling is a method used to reduce hair loss by lowering the temperature of the scalp before, during, and after chemotherapy. This technique has been effective in helping women undergoing breast cancer treatment to keep their hair. The cooling system uses a special fluid to keep the helmet and scalp cold, causing blood vessels to constrict and possibly reducing the damage to hair follicles. This may limit how much of the chemotherapy drugs the follicles absorb, potentially decreasing hair loss. The success of scalp cooling can depend on the type and dose of chemotherapy used and how long the cooling is applied. Cancer patients may also ...