Forum Discussion

Ellie_May01's avatar
7 years ago

Hair shedding after chemo and scalp cooling ends

It’s almost a month since I finished my four chemotherapy treatments. I used the Paxman scalp cooling system and have kept a lot of hair but it’s thinned out and is a bit patchy on the top. Four weeks after treatment finished, I’m still shedding quite a bit of hair. Did anyone have a similar experience and can tell me how long before the hair shedding might stop? Thank you.

9 Replies

  • @Ellie_May01 @kezmusc was an amazing support to me through the whole cold capping she calmed me down through shedding!
  • Hi @Ellie_May01,

    It should slow down within the next couple of weeks.  It took about 6-8 wks for my hair to get back to its normal shedding routine.   Like @Emie once mine started to grow back there was no stopping it.  It's now the thickest it's ever been and still growing rapidly.

    Nearly there lovely. 
  • Thank you, I’m very grateful to have retained so much hair and to be on the other side of chemotherapy. Take care.
  • After chemo and my hair all grown back (grey, frizzy but thick!), I suddenly found more hairs on my brush than normal. When in doubt, panic! The end of extensive consultation (doctors,dermatologists etc) was that my shedding pattern had changed. I was quite shocked to find that between 50 and 100 hairs dropping a day is considered normal - I am quite sure I hadn't lost anything like that before chemo - hairs on my brush were quite unusual.. But the new shedding pattern wasn't actually thinning my hair - over time, the thickness has stayed constant. No-one can explain why it would change - it's not male pattern baldness or alopecia. But personally, I think chemo is not an unlikely candidate. My hair has changed a lot over nearly 5 years since regrowth - rapidly at first, now slowly. Nothing dramatic, but convinces me that the impact can be quite prolonged for some (not all). So yes patience to see what the cumulative effect is, if any. And general kindness to one's hair - I use organic shampoos, limit the amount and type of hair colour, and take hairdressers tips about not overwashing, brushing when wet etc. Best wishes.
  • Be patient it does stop mine now 12 months later is as thick as it ever was
  • I also had four chemo treatments (TC) which finished early February and used the Paxman scalp cooling. I had a pretty good result after finishing but did continue to keep shedding hair for about 8 weeks or so afterwards, it was a bit concerning but did stop and my hair is almost back to normal. Hang in there, I am sure all will be good soon. Best wishes.