There are many side effects that are uncomfortable about chemo treatment, but hair loss is often the issue that people dread most. Chemo affects everyone differently, so hair loss isn't guaranteed. The loss is caused when chemo radiation targets the rapidly dividing cells inside the hair follicles, causing the hair to fall out. For others, the hair doesn't fall out but it does become more brittle, which can lead to hair loss. The hair generally grows back after chemo is completed. The following tips can help minimize or even prevent hair loss in some patients.

Tip #1: Wash sparingly

Washing the hair too often increases the chances of it falling out, since a wash requires a lot of scalp manipulation and tugging. Instead, wash your hair only twice weekly during chemotherapy using only lukewarm water. Use a gentle shampoo and conditioner to further prevent damage to the hair. Your hair may feel a little greasy, but it will adjust to the new care regimen.

Tip #2: Comb carefully

Brushing and combing your hair can also pull it out or cause breakage. Instead, use a wide toothed comb and gently work out any tangle from the bottom up. If your hair tangles badly, consider using a spray-in conditioner to help loosen the knots. The key is to be patient.

Tip #3: Switch to satin or silk

Your pillow case can also be hard on brittle hair and weakened follicles. This is because cotton and flannel is slightly rough and abrasive, which causes it to catch your hair when you move your hair at night. Satin and silk pillow cases are soft and provide minimal resistance, so your hair slides over them without catching.

Tip #4: Skip chemical treatments

Chemo isn't the time to try a perm or to have your hair colored. It's better to simply live with gray or dark roots until several months after your treatment. Trying to do a chemical treatment on hair damaged by chemotherapy will likely result in the loss of your hair, even if you managed to keep it initially.

Tip #5: Try a cold cap

Cold caps contain ice packs, which are formed into a hat that fits snugly to your head. The theory is that by cooling the scalp, the cell division in the hair follicles is slowed so that chemo radiation doesn't damage the follicle. The result is less hair loss. The caps are put on before treatment to cool the scalp and then left on during treatment and then for a few hours afterward as the chemo chemicals work through the body.

Talk to your doctor for more advice on battling the different side effects of chemo treatments.

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