Is It Possible To Regrow Hair After Chemotherapy? When And How Hair Grows Back, Expert Explains

Know if hair can regrow after chemotherapy, how long it takes, and expert tips to support healthy hair growth post-treatment.

It is only when you start to lose your hair that you will start to truly value it. If you are experiencing cancer and are about to undergo chemotherapy, you will probably fall victim to hair loss. Hair loss is one of the most dreaded side effects of the treatment of cancer patients.

Chemotherapy and Hair Loss

In a conversation with Dr Parveen Jain, Senior Consultant & HOD Oncology, Aakash Healthcare, he said, “The chemotherapy consists of using strong drugs that destroy the rapidly multiplying cancerous cells. Other proliferating cells in your body are also harmed by the drugs. These are cells on the hair roots.

Hair loss also varies in individuals, as well as depending on the drug and dosage. Some may experience thinning of their hair, and others may lose all their hair.”

When Hair Loss Starts?

“Hair loss usually starts after multiple treatments of chemotherapy, and when it happens, it may either be in clumps or patches. It also causes some of them to lose the hair on their heads and all over their bodies. No one can be assured of the person who will lose his or her hair and how much hair he or she will lose, given that everybody has a different response to chemo,” the doctor said.

Variations in Hair Loss and Regrowth

The patients who have undergone chemotherapy treatment lose their hair, and it grows at different rates. Some may experience hair growth of hair under chemotherapy, and others may not grow till the chemotherapy is over. Another common side effect of chemotherapy is hair loss, but this is usually on a temporary basis. Your hair starts growing back towards the end of the therapy.

Regrowth Timeline After Chemotherapy

The hair begins to grow normally after the chemotherapy process is done, two or three months later. Hair can be grown back in three to six months. Half a year later, the hair of most of the people is back to full.

Changes in Hair Texture and Colour

Your hair will grow out with a different texture or colour than the one that you lost. More so, as an example, when your hair grows back, it might not be straight, and therefore, it could be wavy.

Other people notice that initially their hair grows back grey, but after a few months it returns to normal colour, possibly because the melanocyte cells that produce pigments in the hair become slower at replicating themselves. You may later have your hair back to its original colour and texture. Scalp scars are rare among individuals because of loss of hair.

Tips For Healthy Hair Growth After Chemo

Though the hair will regrow ultimately after the chemo, there are various steps that you can take in order to ensure that your hair is healthy as it grows back.

To begin with, it is essential to store the hot gadgets, such as hairdryers or irons, and gels and clips that can destroy your hair.
Gently wash your hair, rub a baby shampoo on it, and do it every other week.
Take a shower and dry your hair with a soft towel, and use a soft brush with long bristles or a wide-toothed comb to detangle your hair.
Before healing, it is advisable to have an oncologist and a dermatologist to consult before dyeing, bleaching, and perming your hair.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, loss of hair is usually a side effect of chemotherapy, and the majority of patients recover several months later. With patience and gentle working, in due time, your hair will be brought back to its former strength of colour and feel.