Why Does Chemotherapy Cause Hair Loss?

Hair loss is a common side effect of chemotherapy treatment. Since chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells throughout the body, it can also affect the healthy cells that produce hair on the scalp and all over the body.

Hair loss from chemotherapy usually starts in the few weeks following chemo. Many chemotherapy medications may cause hair loss, but not all of them will. The hair regrowth begins not long after chemotherapy treatment has ended. Knowing what to expect can help you prepare for chemotherapy.

This article will review hair loss from chemotherapy, why it happens, how to manage it, and what to expect.

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How Chemo Affects Cells

Cancer cells tend to divide very quickly—at a much higher rate than most of the cells in the body. They ignore the signals and mechanisms that tell normal cells to stop dividing.

Some normal cells in our bodies also rapidly divide, like hair follicle cells, the mucous membrane cells lining the digestive tract (mouth, throat, stomach, intestines), and the blood-producing cells in the bone marrow.

Chemotherapy drugs damage the genetic material (RNA and DNA) inside rapidly dividing cells that guide cell division. Because these drugs cannot tell the difference between rapidly dividing healthy and cancer cells, they also affect healthy cells.

The hair follicles have a good blood supply, which unfortunately allows chemotherapy drugs to reach them efficiently. As a result, about 65% of people who receive chemotherapy will experience hair loss. The amount of hair loss can depend on which chemotherapy agent is used and the timing, dose, and route of administration. It can also vary from person to person, and it's hard to predict who will be affected most.

About 90% of your scalp hair is in the active growth phase (anagen) at any time. Therefore, this hair will be affected by chemotherapy agents.

There are multiple classes of chemotherapy drugs, each of which affects a different part of the cell growth cycle or acts in a different way. Which agent is chosen depends on the type of cancer.

Alkylating Agents

Alkylating agents damage the cell DNA at all phases of the cell growth cycle. They are used to treat many types of cancer, both solid tumors, like lung or breast cancer, and blood cancers, such as leukemia and multiple myeloma.

Agents more likely to cause hair loss include Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide), Ifex (ifosfamide), and Busulfex (busulphan). The platinum metal salts, such as Paraplatin (carboplatin) and Platinol (cisplatin), are less likely to cause hair loss.

Antimetabolites

Antimetabolites impersonate the building blocks for RNA and DNA, keeping the genetic material from making copies of itself, so the cell can't divide. They are used for breast, ovarian, and colon cancer, as well as leukemia.

This class of chemo drugs is less likely to cause hair loss as compared to others, but some hair thinning may occur.

Anti-Tumor Antibiotics

Anti-tumor antibiotics act on the ability of cells to make copies of DNA, inhibiting cell growth and division. They are used to treat many types of cancer.

Not all anti-tumor antibiotics will cause hair loss. Among these, Adriamycin (doxorubicin) and Idamycin (idarubicin) are more likely to cause hair loss.

Topoisomerase Inhibitors

Plant alkaloids (topoisomerase inhibitors) target specific enzymes that enable DNA strands to separate and make copies of themselves. They are used for lung, ovarian, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer, as well as some leukemias.

In this group, more hair loss is seen with VePesid (etoposide) and Camptosar (irinotecan).

Mitotic Inhibitors

Other plant alkaloids are mitotic inhibitors. They inhibit enzymes that are needed for cell reproduction. These include the taxanes (made from the bark of the Pacific yew tree) and vinca alkaloids (derived from the periwinkle plant). They are used for breast, lung, and blood cancers.

These chemotherapy agents are more likely to cause hair loss. They include Taxol (paclitaxel), Taxotere (docetaxel), Ellence (epirubicin), Ixempra (Ixabepilone), and Vincasar (vincristine).

Is Radiation Contributing to My Hair Loss, Too?

Some people receive radiation and chemotherapy treatments, which can contribute to hair loss. Radiation only affects hair on the area of the body being treated. This may mean the hair on that area is lost, but not the hair on your scalp (although that may be affected by chemotherapy). At lower doses, radiation hair loss is temporary, but at higher doses it can be permanent.

Variation in Effects

Some of the newer cancer drugs are more precise in targeting cancer cells and may not result in hair loss. There are also varying degrees of hair loss, regardless of chemotherapy drug type and regimen.

Hair Loss Timeline

Hair loss usually doesn’t happen immediately after chemotherapy. It usually starts one to two weeks after the first treatment with chemo.

Timeline for Hair Loss

  • One to three weeks after the first treatment: Hair loss begins.
  • One to two months after the first treatment: Hair loss becomes severe.
  • Three to six months after treatment ends: Hair regrows.

Other Hair Loss Symptoms

Hair may fall out in clumps or seem like it is thinning as you lose a few strands at a time from all over your scalp. Depending on the type of chemotherapy used, you could lose the hair on your head only, or also on all parts of your body, including the eyelashes and eyebrows, arm, legs, underarms, and pubic area.

Other symptoms you may experience include:

  • Scalp itching, tenderness, or dryness
  • Scalp sensitivity
  • Increased skin sensitivity to the sun
  • Red or darkened skin or other pigment changes
  • Remaining hair may be dull or dry

Prevention and Treatment

While hair loss may depend on the chemotherapy drug used and how the treatment is given, these choices are appropriately made to be the most effective against the type of cancer being treated.

One preventive measure is the use of scalp cooling. This can be done with ice packs, cooling caps, or scalp cooling systems used before, during, or after treatment. This causes the capillaries supplying the hair follicles to constrict, exposing them to less chemotherapy medication.

The effectiveness of scalp cooling is still being studied, but devices have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It seems to work best for taxane-based chemotherapy.

Using Rogaine (minoxidil) has not been shown to prevent hair loss, but it may reduce the severity or shorten the time it takes to regrow the hair.

Being gentle with your hair and scalp can help reduce hair loss and breakage and prevent scalp irritation. Follow these tips:

  • Do not shampoo frequently.
  • Use warm water to clean your scalp, and pat dry rather than rubbing.
  • Use mild shampoos and conditioners that do not have perfumes. Avoid any hair products such as hair spray, gels, or oils.
  • Be gentle and keep combing or brushing to a minimum.
  • If you must use a hairdryer, use a low heat setting. Don't use a curling iron.
  • Avoid using brush rollers to curl hair and any style where you pull the hair back with ponytail holders or hairbands.
  • Don’t dye your hair or get a perm.
  • Try sleeping on a satin pillowcase.

Hair Growth After Chemo

With most types of chemotherapy, the cells in the hair follicles will regenerate enough to resume hair growth. They normally go through a cycle of active growth, then rest. Chemotherapy sends more of them into the rest phase (telogen), which usually lasts for 100 days.

Some people will note hair beginning to come back even before the end of treatment, but it is more common to see it growing back after two to three months. At first, you may see light amounts of fuzz-like hair return, followed by thicker amounts of hair.

By about six months after treatment, you may have enough hair to be able to style it.

Still, some people do not see hair regrowth. Some types of chemotherapy (such as busulfan and cyclophosphamide) have a higher risk of permanent hair loss.

The effects of chemotherapy on the hair follicles can result in the regrown hair being a different color or texture and having different waves or curls than before. In the breast cancer treatment study, 53% said their hair became wavier or curlier, 58% reported thinner hair, 6% noted thicker hair, 38% said their hair was grayer or whiter, and 5% reported darker hair.

Summary

Hair loss is a common side effect from chemotherapy. It occurs due to the way chemotherapy works-by interfering with the way cells divide. Not all chemotherapy medications cause hair loss, but many do. Hair loss from chemo starts about two weeks following the first treatment and will begin to regrow once the chemo is finished.

Preventative measures for hair loss are limited. Scalp cooling may be effective but can be expensive and not work for everyone. Topical medications have also not been found to be effective in preventing hair loss from chemo.

A Word From Verywell

Hair loss is a consequence of cancer treatment that can be very distressing. There is no right or wrong way to feel about this hair loss or how you face it. It may affect some people's self-esteem and emotional well-being, while others can view it as a symbol of their fight against the disease.

Talk to your treatment team about your risks, options, and their recommendations. You can choose to wear a wig or head covering or embrace the new look. Many have been down this same path and can offer helpful suggestions and support.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does body hair grow back after chemo?

    Body hair can grow back after chemo. Hair loss from chemo is often temporary, and hair will begin to regrow after the chemo causing hair loss has been discontinued. However, there is a risk that hair loss can be permanent in some people.

  • Does chemo get rid of pubic hair?

    Yes, it is possible that pubic hair may fall out because of chemotherapy. This generally happens later than when the hair on the head is lost.

  • Do you lose your mustache with chemo?

    Yes, it is possible that facial hair may fall out because of chemotherapy. This generally happens later than when the hair on the head is lost.

11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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  7. American Cancer Society. Coping with hair loss.

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  9. National Cancer Insitute. Skin and nail changes during cancer treatment.

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By Julie Scott, MSN, ANP-BC, AOCNP
Julie is an Adult Nurse Practitioner with oncology certification and a healthcare freelance writer with an interest in educating patients and the healthcare community.

Originally written by Lisa Fayed