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Suggest Treatment For Hair Loss Caused After Radiation Therapy

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Posted on Wed, 21 May 2014
Question: Hello, I'm 20 years old and recently I had to do radiotherapy 28 times so far I've done 13times,now I have hair loss problem I'm wondering to know if I can use Rogaine(minoxidil) in order to stop the hair losses or slow it down.if you have any recommendation that would help me a lot.
Thank you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Souvik Adhikari (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Hair loss

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

I'm extremely sorry for your condition. Radiation therapy to the head actually causes damage to the hair follicles and these enter into a phase of telogen and fall off. Now, whether your hair would grow back or not actually depends on the amount of damage to the hair follicles. In most cases, the damage is limited so that the hair grows back but might not be of the same quality or texture. Larger radiation doses may damage the entire follicle completely so that you might land up with complete alopecia and the only resort might be hair transplantation later on.
Whatever might be the damage, it is not in your hands. You can apply Minoxidil as it has a growth effect on the hair follicles and reverses hair fall in many cases however, it would not be able to prevent permanent hair loss if the radiation dose is quite high.
Therefore, apply minoxidil and keep your fingers crossed for new hair to appear.

Please let me know if you have further questions. Wish you all the very best!

Dr. Souvik Adhikari
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Answered by
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Dr. Souvik Adhikari

Cosmetic & Plastic Surgeon

Practicing since :2000

Answered : 249 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Hair Loss Caused After Radiation Therapy

Brief Answer: Hair loss Detailed Answer: Hello, I'm extremely sorry for your condition. Radiation therapy to the head actually causes damage to the hair follicles and these enter into a phase of telogen and fall off. Now, whether your hair would grow back or not actually depends on the amount of damage to the hair follicles. In most cases, the damage is limited so that the hair grows back but might not be of the same quality or texture. Larger radiation doses may damage the entire follicle completely so that you might land up with complete alopecia and the only resort might be hair transplantation later on. Whatever might be the damage, it is not in your hands. You can apply Minoxidil as it has a growth effect on the hair follicles and reverses hair fall in many cases however, it would not be able to prevent permanent hair loss if the radiation dose is quite high. Therefore, apply minoxidil and keep your fingers crossed for new hair to appear. Please let me know if you have further questions. Wish you all the very best! Dr. Souvik Adhikari