Keeping Cool Reduces Hair Loss From Chemotherapy

Hair loss, including complete baldness, is a common, and upsetting, side effect of chemotherapy. One way that hair loss can be reduced is by wearing a 'cooling cap' during treatment. The low temperature reduces the blood supply to the scalp, and therefore reduces the amount of chemotherapy drug that makes it into that area.  The lower temperature also slows the division of cells in the area, reducing the impact of any drug that makes it there.  The FDA recently approved the use of the caps for more cancers, although it is not right for all cancer types or patients.