Effects of Cancer Treatment to Human Hair Health

 Thinning:

Cancer treatments are harsh on hair follicles. Stronger hair follicles will recover first and begin to generate hair. Some other hair follicles will begin to generate hair months after the last cancer treatment has ended, while the weaker hair follicles may have gone dormant. Because hair on the top of the head tends to grow from weaker follicles, many patients may notice that they experience more thinning at the top of the head rather than the sides where hair follicles tend to be stronger.

Color Change:

Many cancer patients complain that their hair begins to lack color or tone after cancer treatments. Actually, this is not usually the case. What does often happen is that the blended, or overall, color or tone of the hair may begin to change because the follicles of different colored hair strands die or go dormant.

Hair Texture:

After cancer treatment, hair may be kinky primarily because of uneven damage to the follicle, which means the hair grows at an angle, which will cause it to curl.

Dry Hair:

Cancer treatments will often cause severe damage to the sebaceous glands found in the scalp. These glands produce a light oily liquid known as sebum which naturally progresses up the outer cuticle of the hair fiber. This sebaceous system is what provides hair its natural moisture. With damaged sebum, it is difficult to cultivate healthy looking beautiful hair after cancer treatments unless it is properly cared for.

Brittle or Weak Hair:

Cancer treatments can leave the body with a debilitated capacity to regulate the distribution of different proteins. Hair is made of a delicate balance between protein and moisture. If hair is brittle and prone to breakage, or unmanageable because it seems almost too firm, then this is an indication that the hair is lacking moisture and has a high percentage of protein. If hair is weak and pulls apart, or is unmanageable because it seems almost too soft or gooey, then this is an indication that the hair is lacking protein and has a high percentage of moisture.

Caring for Hair After Cancer

Caring for clients that have been treated for cancer requires a basic sensitivity to the ingredients contained in the products that are used and recommend for them. It is important to carefully consider their medical situation of having many of their body’s natural defenses impaired by the cancer treatments that they received.  http://www.ultraimports.com.au/