TLDR Cryotherapy helps reduce chemotherapy side effects but needs more research for best use.
The review "Supportive Cryotherapy: A Review From Head to Toe" examined the effectiveness of cryotherapy in reducing chemotherapy-induced side effects such as alopecia, oral mucositis, ocular toxicity, and onycholysis. Scalp cooling was particularly effective in reducing hair loss, with success rates improving from 56% before 1995 to 73% after, supported by studies including a large one with 1,411 patients. Cryotherapy also significantly reduced oral mucositis by approximately 50%, nail toxicity, and short-term ocular toxicity. Despite these benefits, the review noted limitations in the studies, such as lack of blinded control groups and inconsistent clinical endpoints, and called for further research to optimize techniques and identify the most beneficial patient subgroups.
52 citations,
May 2013 in “Supportive Care in Cancer” Scalp cooling significantly reduces hair loss in chemotherapy patients.
27 citations,
June 2011 in “Journal of Advanced Nursing” The penguin cap can help reduce hair loss in chemotherapy patients.
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.
40 citations,
September 2007 in “Bone marrow transplantation” Certain chemotherapy drugs can cause permanent hair loss in stem cell transplant patients.
36 citations,
April 1994 in “PubMed” Cyclosporine A slows down hair loss from chemotherapy in mice, while dexamethasone increases hair loss but speeds up regrowth.
53 citations,
June 1982 in “The BMJ” Cooling the scalp below 22°C before and during chemotherapy can help prevent hair loss.
10 citations,
July 2016 in “Clinical and translational science” Sorafenib often causes mucositis, hand-foot syndrome, rash, alopecia, diarrhea, and fatigue.
52 citations,
November 2013 in “Journal of Pain and Symptom Management” Cryotherapy helps reduce chemotherapy side effects but needs more research for best use.
