Encourage Hair Growth After Chemotherapy

Aside from natural solutions, there are products on the market that try to stimulate hair growth following hair loss due to chemotherapy. The most recommended types of products are:

1. 1
   Minoxidil

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   This falls under a class of hair growth stimulants that work on the hair follicles. It expands the follicles to make the hair thicker when it grows. It also works on extending the stage when the hair is in active hair growth. You can choose between two strengths or formulations - the 2 percent strength and the 5 percent strength. The former is recommended for both men and women, while the latter is recommended only for men. A drop applied twice a day. Sometimes, it might take up to four months before results are noticeable.

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2. 2
   Ketoconazole Shampoo

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   Ketoconazole is an antifungal treatment that blocks the action of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), an androgen or hormone that prevents the hair follicles from getting necessary nutrients to grow healthy. Added in an anti-dandruff shampoo, it helps clear the hair follicles so that the hair can grow healthily.

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3. 3
   Tricomin

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   This is a hair growth stimulant that is used as an important ingredient of shampoos, conditioners, and follicle therapy sprays. It can be used along with Minoxidil to foster hair growth. Tricomin is among the few stimulants for hair that is backed by solid medical studies and FDA trials. It contains copper peptides that work on shortening the resting phase period of the hair follicle. In practical terms, this means prolonging the active growth phase of the hair.

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• Hair loss is part and parcel of the struggle against cancer. Unfortunately, all chemotherapy drugs that effectively target and kill fast proliferating malignant cells, can also cause chemotherapy patients to lose hair.
• Manage the growth of your hair.
  • At the onset, and as your hair is growing back, keep applying moisturizer. This can help ease the itch that comes when growing back your hair.
  • Your scalp will be very sensitive at this stage. Make sure to protect it when you go outdoors, using head-coverings such as scarves, wigs, hats, etc.
  • Trimming is a good way to keep your growing hair well groomed. As the hair grows, it will pass the awkward stage, and an adept hairstylist can help you pass those stages fashionably. Meanwhile, it's best to stay away from chemicals used in dyeing, coloring, bleaching, perming and straightening hair.
  • Cover your hair with a satin cloth to protect your hair at night. This can minimize the friction against the pillowcase. Also, using pillow cases with a slippery fabric will cut down on the friction between your hair, and your pillow.
  • If you can, shave your head or wear it short. These can let you get away from a having hair patches that can be unsightly. It will also let your hair grow evenly. The alternative is to cut your hair short. This way your hair will look thicker.
  • Go for a soft-bristled brush. To untangle your hair, use a wide-tooth comb and detangle from the bottom first - if the hair is longer. This will prevent damaging your hair and scalp, which, at this time, are delicate.
  • Use a wig. It is nice if you have a wig that matches your natural tresses. If you want one, get it customized to make more natural-looking. You can do this before you start chemotherapy when your hair is still there. You can also save a lock of your hair to match the wig if you will opt to do it later. Wigs can be expensive, but there are lot of agencies there for you, to provide a wig for you, if you can't afford it.

[1] The American Cancer Society has a wig program.

Losing one's beautiful tresses is difficult, but it is something that you can live with. What matters most is that the chemotherapy has successfully overcome the spreading malignant cells. Focus on fighting and getting well. Hair loss is not permanent. With some natural remedies, commercial products, and a great attitude, you can encourage hair growth after chemotherapy.

What products stimulate hair growth after chemotherapy?

You can use Aloe Vera gel. Just apply it directly onto your scalp and leave it on for a few minutes or leave it overnight. You will have to do it for a few weeks before you see results. Once your hair starts to grow, you will notice that the strands are stronger.

You can also try applying those mint rubs that people normally use for muscle pain. Many people have tried it and they start to notice small hairs begin to grow. It is said to stimulate the roots of your hair, that's why it stimulatea hair growth.

Hair growth after chemo. I underwent 17 cycles of chemo. Help please?

Its almost 3 months and my hair is growing very slowly. It is soft & fuzzy. I underwent 17 cycles of chemo. When will my hair be back to normal?

Chemotherapy is a chemical intervention primarily used to kill or slow down the growth of cancer cells in the body. It can either be in the form of oral chemotherapy (Tablet or capsules to be taken orally) or intravenous chemotherapy (injected into the vein). The course of chemotherapy solely depends on the type and severity of the cancer (one day treatment or several treatments). One notable side effect of chemotherapy is alopecia or hair loss because it depresses the immune system of the body resulting in less production of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets (blood components). Blood carries essential nutrients and oxygen needed by the hair follicles and cells of the scalp. If the blood has limited nutrients and oxygen, the hair follicles will not function properly, resulting in thinning of the hair and slower hair growth. Hair loss is not permanent and usually grows back after chemotherapy (after a few weeks or months). Regarding your query, you underwent seventeen courses of chemotherapy and for about three months your hair is growing very slowly. This is because your body is not yet fully recovered from the numerous chemotherapy treatments you had. Based on this wiki, the normal human hair growth rate is about half an inch in a month. However, if the person's immune system is suppressed or compromised, the growth rate of human hair is also compromised, and the hair's physical characteristic is altered showing a weak and fuzzy hair. Normal growth will resume in a few more months, up to a year or two, until your body's physiologic functions normalizes.

How can I increase hair growth after radio therapy?

I am suffering from a malignant brain tumor and surgical resection was done last Feb 6th, followed by radiotherapy (1.8 gy *33 sittings was done). Now I am having hair loss. How can I manage my hair loss? Please reply soon.

There are several tips in the VisiHow article on this page and in the QnA section. Once you have fully completed your treatment, you can begin the recovery of your hair in about 6 months, but by the 9th month, there should be a dramatic improvement.

The radiation targeted directly to the head could have caused follicles to die, but you will not know until after the 9th month, if no further treatment is pending, to see what you are dealing with. For now, speak to your oncologist about hair re-growth serums. You can use Castor Oil to see if that helps stimulate your scalp.

Hi. My mother had chemotherapy, and now she completely lost her hair. Can you help?

Can you please guide me? She wants her hair back as soon as possible.

After 3 months following her final round of chemotherapy, she should begin seeing new hair growth. There is not much you can do during chemotherapy but afterwards, she can start applying over the counter hair growth medicine or even Castor oil to her scalp. One thing she can do now is to use clarifying facemasks on her scalp to keep her hair follicles open. Because her scalp is exposed, the follicles can become clogged, inhibiting future hair growth. Look for ones that say they help with pores and blackheads. Have her put the mask on her scalp and then rinse it off using a gentle shampoo.

I'm not sure what shampoo or conditioner I should use. I have peach fuzz and I am excited to have my hair grow back. I'm just seeing white hair.

What shampoo or conditioner should I use to help with re-growth?

There are quite a few product lines that have created specific shampoo and conditioners to help stimulate hair growth. For optimum results it is best to use both the shampoo and conditioner, and any other nourishing serums or oils in the product line in conjunction with each other. In fact, the product lines below may not sell the shampoo or conditioner as a stand-alone product.

Here is a list of the top three recommended hair cleansing and conditioning products to encourage hair growth -

Keranique Hair-Re-growth Treatment is specifically formulated premium shampoo and conditioner for women that widens shrunken hair follicles and is clinically proven to increase the hair shaft diameter.

Phytoworx Organic Hair Loss Shampoo deploys plant stem cells and essential oils to combat the over-production of testosterone that can close hair follicles.

Ultra Lax Labs Growth Stimulating Shampoo is a thickening shampoo that contains ketoconazole,, an antifungal agent that clarifies the pores of the scalp and aids hair growth.

One year later, and my hair is still not growing properly I'm 43 years old. What is your advice in this case?

Hello. I had breast cancer. My chemo finished in May 2014. One year later, and I still have a problem with my hair. It's thick, but I don't have hair on the top and sides. I had some hormone tests. Is it normal or not? It's been 14 months and it's still not growing properly.

This can happen with breast cancer chemotherapy treatment. Depending on the chemo treatment you received, there is a risk, with certain people, that the hair loss is permanent. You said you were getting your hormones checked, so I hope they did a test for hypothyroidism.

For now, make a mixture of coconut oil and castor oil and apply to your scalp nightly, before bed. This may help in the production of new hair. You can also try the Rogaine and Minoxidil routes, but if you do have a hormonal imbalance, it may not help your hormones are balanced again.

77 year old woman. Thinning brittle hair, and I am concerned. Will supplements help?

What supplements would assist in hair re-growth?

Silica supplements will help. Look for pure actual silica and not biotin. This will also help in the production of collagen for your skin and joints. Use Argan oil on your hair as a topical application daily. The oil is a dry oil, so it will not make your hair limp and greasy.

Will using coconut oil be helpful for hair re-growth. I also have Nioxin.?

I am 13 almost 14 weeks post my second stem cell transplant for multiple myeloma. I had a 30-minute drip of melflan (not sure of spelling) and my hair fell out about 2 weeks later. It started growing back 8 weeks after the transplant. My skin is still itchy from the chemo so I hesitated using the Nioxin, but was wondering if the coconut oil has any nourishing benefits. Usually my hair would grow very fast in the summer but of course this summer will be the exception. Thank you.

Coconut oil can help in hair production by reducing fungus associated with the scalp. Castor Oil can help aid hair production and these oils will also help with the itchiness you are experiencing. You can certainly begin the Nioxin now that you are 3 months post chemotherapy.

What is out there that is safe, that will help with my very thin spots of hair, without having to use it forever?

After Chemo, I am sort of gun-shy, and there are so many products. I'm confused.

There are so many products because people are different, and not every product works for every person. You will have to test each product for 3 months each to determine which one gives you the best results. Something to try out right away, is Castor Oil. You leave it on your scalp overnight. For the thin hair, consider using Nioxin and washing your hair twice a week with baking soda added to your shampoo. This will thicken your hair and treat your scalp.

What do I need to buy for number 6? Thank you.

I had chemo so now my hair is very thin...probably 1 inch long. Some of it came in, and then fell out again. I don't know what to do.

Read all the information in the VisiHow article and the QnA section. One essential oil you should get is Rosemary Oil. This oil can stimulate hair growth when applied daily to the scalp. Castor Oil can be mixed with the Rosemary Essential Oil and applied nightly to your scalp.

Can hair follicles that aren't producing hair, begin producing hair again? Can hair follicles become permanently killed or destroyed?

Two years from the four rounds of chemo for breast cancer that I received which was Taxotere, Herceptin and Perjeta, I have very sparse hair with about 80 percent of my scalp still bald. Then one year of Herceptin and 14 months of Anastrozole, an aromatase inhibitor. The hair I do have is very weak and slow growing. No balding in my family history from either parent and originally my hair was considered much thicker than average. Thank you for your response. Any help you might be able to offer.. I have tried: All kinds of external and internal DHT prohibitors, vitamins, minerals, herbs, massage, so many things.. I think it was caused by: The chemo medicines.

Taxotere sadly can cause permanent hair loss in 3 to 8% of people. There is an Taxotears Support Group online that you should consider joining. The good news is that your hair is slowly growing which means you do have a chance of recovering your hair - eventually. Has your hormonal panel checked to see if you have hypothyroidism or other deficiencies which can cause hair loss?

How can I be sure that my husband does not get cancer knowing that his grandmother died of the same disease and his mother now suffers from lung cancer?

My mother in law suffers from lung cancer which is prevalent in more than one place in the body and in the final stages

I think your husband might try to have the Blood Marker Tests /tumor markers to detect cancer activity in the body. Proteins and circulating tumor cells are two types of markers that can be measured. A cancer tumor often produces a specific protein in the blood that serves as a marker for the cancer. Circulating tumor cells are cells that break off from the cancer and move into the blood stream. Protein markers and circulating tumor cells can be measured with simple blood tests.

Thank you! I finished 2 rounds of chemo 4 months ago and 33 radiations almost 3 months ago, I noticed in the last two weeks that my hair is growing back under the hair left on my head, and I'm so happy..Will it continue grow back or shall I use a supplement to help?

Like I said above, my hair is growing back after almost 3 months I did radiations and 4 months I did chimios..its about one inch long and I'm happy, will it continue to grow his way or shall I take a supplement, like oil, serum or vitamins?

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What supplement can I take or what can I put on my hair?

I had chemotherapy 5 years ago and my hair is still thinner and bridal

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