TLDR Many patients find hair loss from chemotherapy very distressing, and while treatments like minoxidil and scalp cooling may help, there is no sure way to prevent it.
The 2010 document discusses the significant emotional impact of chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) on patients, with 47% of female patients considering it the most traumatic aspect of chemotherapy and 8% potentially refusing treatment due to fear of hair loss. It reviews various methods to prevent or mitigate CIA, including topical minoxidil, which may lessen the severity or duration of hair loss but cannot prevent it, and scalp cooling, which has limited data supporting its effectiveness. Nutritional support is also mentioned as potentially beneficial. Experimental pharmacological approaches are being explored, but no approved treatment for CIA exists. The document notes that hair loss from chemotherapy is usually reversible and suggests that hair and scalp care, along with the use of wigs, may be the best current coping strategies. It also covers the psychological effects of CIA, the role of nutrition, cases of permanent alopecia, and the failure of hair regrowth after bone marrow transplantation, without providing specific study sizes or detailed results.
67 citations,
May 2010 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Some chemotherapy can cause permanent hair loss.
155 citations,
March 2009 in “Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery” Scalp cooling might reduce hair loss from chemotherapy, but evidence is weak and other treatments are being tested.
28 citations,
January 2007 in “Dermatology” Chemotherapy can cause rapid, extensive hair loss, with patterns varying between individuals.
97 citations,
September 2006 in “Pharmaceutical Research” No treatment fully prevents hair loss from chemotherapy yet.
49 citations,
January 2003 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology” Effective management of children's hair loss involves accurate diagnosis, various treatments, and supportive care.
153 citations,
January 2001 in “Science” Using CDK inhibitors on rats showed a reduction in chemotherapy-caused hair loss, but later experiments could not repeat these results.
63 citations,
May 2000 in “Australasian Journal of Dermatology” Chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant can cause permanent hair loss.
127 citations,
July 1996 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Minoxidil shortens baldness from chemotherapy by 50.2 days without significant side effects.
49 citations,
October 1994 in “Annals of Oncology” Minoxidil not effective in preventing chemotherapy-induced hair loss.
23 citations,
December 1991 in “Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences” Balding scalps slow down hair growth.
1 citations,
August 2022 in “JAAD case reports” Tofacitinib and oral minoxidil may help treat Sisaipho alopecia areata.
April 2022 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” Trimax-360 Serum, when used for 98 days, safely and effectively improves hair growth, thickness, and density without any side effects.
1 citations,
August 2021 in “Cosmoderma” Low-dose oral minoxidil is effective and well-tolerated for treating hair loss.
8 citations,
March 2015 in “PubMed” 5% minoxidil foam effectively treats female hair loss.
1 citations,
September 2002 in “PubMed” Minoxidil helps stimulate hair growth and reduce hair loss in women with androgenic alopecia.
370 citations,
September 1999 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” Finasteride and minoxidil are effective for hair loss, but continued research is needed for better treatments.
54 citations,
March 1987 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” 3% topical minoxidil effectively treats extensive alopecia areata with few side effects.
