Radiotherapy new hair growth
At Cancer Hair Care we understand how important it is that you can make a plan for your new hair growth. When it comes to new hair after external beam radiotherapy to the scalp area, it is a person-by-person situation. This is because the exact area treated is unique to you.
Let’s take a look at some of the details about new hair growth.
How long will it take for new hair growth to appear?
When it comes to planning new hair growth following hair loss due to external beam radiotherapy, it is a very individual process. This is because unlike chemotherapy treatment, external beam radiotherapy to the scalp area will be very specific to you in terms of the area affected and the amount of hair loss.
Re-growth does depend on where the hair loss has occurred and the quality of the skin surrounding this area. The fragile hair follicle is often quite damaged and needs time to repair. Hair growth varies but it is common for the hair to be thinner or sometimes patchy after radiotherapy. It may also have a different texture, colour and feel to before.
After three to six months new hair often starts to grow through. But it can take longer and be up to six to twelve months. At first you are likely to see a light covering of hair as an indication the hair will grow back. Remember that on the scalp even an inch of hair is enough to have a very short style. There are lots of clever ways to disguise areas of hair loss on the head and blend new short hairs with older long hairs.
But occasionally the hair loss can be permanent which can be upsetting as this means that the hair in the affected area will not grow back at all. However, this could be as small as a few millimetres or cover a larger area. We will help you with ideas and options if you need to find a more permanent solution.
How should I look after my new hair?
As long as the skin on your scalp has healed, once your new hair starts to grow through you should be able to follow our guide for New Hair Growth. The only exception to this is if your medical team have advised you to use specialist lotions on your scalp or may have advised that you are to have more treatment on the scalp.
If you are in any doubt talk to your cancer nurse specialist.
If you scalp has healed and your hair starts to grow take a look in our New hair growth section for tips and ideas.
Next planned review: February 2022