55-Year-Old Female with Alopecia of the Scalp and Body After Chemotherapy

    January 2022 in “ Clinical Cases in Dermatology ”
    Michael Lawless, Sean G. Kirk, Suchita Sampath, Shannon C. Trotter
    TLDR Chemotherapy can cause significant but usually reversible hair loss, and managing it involves patient education and hair care strategies.
    A 55-year-old female experienced diffuse hair loss on her scalp and body due to chemotherapy, a condition known as anagen effluvium. This type of hair loss occurs when hair follicles in the anagen (growth) phase are disrupted by toxic or inflammatory insults, such as chemotherapy drugs. Although most hair loss in anagen effluvium is reversible, management focuses on patient education, coping strategies, and minimizing hair loss duration and severity. Techniques like scalp cooling and medical interventions such as topical minoxidil can aid in reducing hair loss and promoting regrowth. Diagnosis relies on clinical history, physical exams, and sometimes laboratory techniques.
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