Scalp cooling gadgets are backed by a significant quantity of most cancers analysis and acknowledged by main organizations, such because the American Most cancers Society, as an choice that will assist scale back chemotherapy-related hair loss.
“Scalp cooling is the one [U.S. Food and Drug Administration]-cleared technique to scale back chemotherapy-related hair loss,” says Jame Abraham, MD, a breast medical oncologist at Cleveland Clinic Most cancers Institute and member of the Nationwide Complete Most cancers Community Tips panel for breast most cancers.
One assessment discovered that scalp cooling (or scalp hypothermia) could scale back the chance of hair loss by 43 p.c in girls present process chemotherapy for breast most cancers, serving to enhance physique picture throughout remedy.
One other research discovered scalp cooling helps decrease the severity of hair loss and will even assist stop the lack of eyebrows and eyelashes, enhancing high quality of life throughout breast most cancers remedy.
What Are the Drawbacks?
Though scalp cooling is taken into account protected and helps many individuals with breast most cancers protect their hair, it’s not a assure, says Dr. Abraham. Outcomes can range broadly, relying on components corresponding to:
- The kind of chemotherapy medicine used
- The dose and schedule of remedy
- The match of the cooling cap
- The consistency of scalp cooling utilization
- The thickness, sort, texture, and magnificence of hair
Regardless of the effectiveness of scalp cooling for stopping chemotherapy-related hair loss, the method may also be uncomfortable and include negative effects, corresponding to:
Moreover, entry and insurance coverage protection range considerably, and out-of-pocket prices can add up rapidly.
