How Treatment Affects Hair Follicles

Hair grows from follicles embedded deep inside the skin and scalp. Hair loss happens when treatment divides follicle cells, introducing weak hair that may break off at the scalp or fall out from its roots.

Hair Loss During Treatment

The more hair follicles break, the less hair will be able to grow in while under treatment. Just like all cells, the follicles will quickly recover from the effects of chemotherapy after treatment.

Chemotherapy Affects All Hair Follicles

It is not only the hair on the top of one's head that is effected by chemotherapy. Eyebrows become thinner, hair on arms, legs and pubic hair can be affected by treatment.

Additional Hair Changes Due to Chemotherapy

Whether or not you will completely lose your hair depends on the dosage and type of chemotherapy received. Other side effects that can happen to your hair follicles during treatment include an itchy scalp, thinning of hair and brittle, course hair.

Regrowth of Hair

After treatment, when hair returns, it will look like the fuzz of baby chicks. Hair can grow in differently: Straight is now curly, dark hair is now lighter, etc. Over time it should return back to its natural color and texture.

Source:

www.cancer.org