Chemo curls are a side effect that might occur when the chemotherapy exits your system. A person’s hair may continue to look different for some time after undergoing chemotherapy treatment for their disease. Specific individuals have a change in hair texture after undergoing chemotherapy treatment; this is often referred to as “chemo curls. Other changes to the hair may also occur, the length of which will vary from person to person and from treatment to therapy. We also go through some of the other potential side effects of chemo curls on your hair, including some tips for caring for your hair after it’s been through treatment.
What are chemo curls?
Chemo curls that grow back after chemotherapy are often referred to as “chemo curls” to characterize the texture of the hair. You may notice that your hair had returned a different color, texture, and thickness than it did before you began chemotherapy if you aren’t prepared for this adverse effect. You may still get chemo curls even if you shaved your head before starting a treatment or typically let your hair fall out. Curly hair is occasionally a side effect of chemotherapy due to its impact on the body.
Does chemotherapy always result in permanent curls?
It usually takes three to six months following the completion of chemotherapy treatment for hair to grow back. A person’s hair may initially have a wonderful texture and visible variations in both color and texture. The chemo curls phase of hair development can take several different forms since it depends on how long it takes the body to recover from the effects of chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy drugs stop the body from producing new cells, a process harmful to healthy cells. Chemotherapy has a greater chance of success against cancer cells due to their rapid proliferation than normal cells. Chemotherapy drugs can’t distinguish between malignant and healthy cells; therefore, they may destroy hair follicles and other healthy tissues.
What causes curls in hair after chemotherapy?
Numerous chemotherapy patients claim that their hair comes back curly, and many theories explain this. Chemotherapy effectiveness is a widely accepted hypothesis. Instead of specifically targeting the rapidly dividing cancer cells, this treatment assaults all compartments with a high rate of cell renewal. Chemotherapy destroys hair cells, which reproduce quickly. It may take several weeks for these medications to be entirely removed from your system, so their active activity on your hair follicles may linger.
The initial stage of hair regeneration:
The initial stage of hair regeneration may take up to a year or even longer, while in others, it can be finished in as little as a few months. This differs from person to person based on the individual’s genetic makeup. After the body has finished investing its energy into the manufacture of healthy cells and has recovered from the adverse effects of chemotherapy, it is widely thought that average hair growth will return to its previous rate.
Potential side effects of therapy:
Patients who are worried about the potential negative consequences of treatment, such as hair loss and the length of time it may take for hair to grow back, can seek their physicians to aid in planning for these outcomes to alleviate their anxiety. A person needs to talk with their primary care physician about the possible adverse effects of any treatment or drug they are considering undergoing or taking.
How do I care for chemo curls?
You should treat your new hair as you would if you had a terrible perm, which is to say as if you had just had one. Select a mild shampoo and use it. Products developed for dry, damaged hair or baby shampoo is two options. Although “mild” may be used as a descriptor for shampoos, this does not guarantee they are without danger. The Environmental Working Group is a non-profit that collects and organizes information on potential health risks associated with consumer products.
Care for the hair after chemotherapy:
Hair care after chemotherapy may require a combination of several methods and hair care products. Using harsh chemicals to die or perm one’s hair may tax the hair and scalp throughout the therapeutic process. No law states when someone may color or perm their hair after chemotherapy, although it may be desirable to wait until the scalp is less sensitive and the hair is over the chemo curl stage. Straight-haired chemo patients are unskilled with curly hair care.
Tips for chemo curls:
The following are some general recommendations for handling chemo curls and hair after chemotherapy:
1: If you want to avoid frizz, it’s best to let your hair air dry instead of using a blow dryer.
2: The usage of a wide-tooth comb, as opposed to a brush, is recommended for detangling hair.
3: Use different mousses, gels, and oils to see what works best for your curly hair.
4: Avoid using sulfate-containing shampoos and regular hair treatments, such as conditioners.
5: It’s suggested that you use a gentle shampoo and conditioner.
6: Avoid putting too hot water on your hair if you have a sensitive scalp or suffer from dandruff.
Does chemotherapy always result in permanent curls?
Seeing your hair come back in a different style than it did before might be frightening, but it’s usually nothing to worry about since the change is temporary. Typically, hair growth after alopecia might take anywhere from three to six months, albeit it can be slow. Your newly re-grown hair may have a different texture, like being curly, throughout the first year of hair regeneration. A year after therapy, your hair may begin growing normally.
Conclusion:
Chemo curls are every day among cancer survivors who have undergone chemotherapy. The hair follicles may be among the many cell types affected by chemotherapy drugs that continue to circulate in the body for some time after treatment has ended. Chemotherapy-induced curls are typically temporary and should relax with time. Further changes to hair color or texture should be reversed when the drugs are removed from the body throughout treatment. As a stopgap measure, giving the hair some TLC and styling it the way you want might make it much simpler to handle.
FAQs:
How much time does it take for the curls that chemo causes to go?
Chemotherapy may induce curls in some people’s hair that can continue for years, or at least until the new hair that grows after treatment is cut off.
Who likes the idea of sporting longer hairstyles?
This should come as welcome information to those who like the idea of sporting longer hairstyles. After six to twelve months of short hair, most chemo curls will be gone, and you may try new hairstyles. Chemotherapy patients should keep their hair short.
Do I run the risk of getting chemo curls?
Hair may also change color on its own. The bulk of results will be insignificant. Your hair may have a variety of colors, from dark to light. After chemotherapy, it’s conceivable that your hair can become curly or wavy in texture.