Key Summary
A cold cap restricts the blood flow to the scalp and reduces the amount of medication reaching the hair follicles
During the study, hair follicles were isolated from the scalp and grown in the lab before being treated with chemotherapy
Scientists hope the laboratory research will soon be trialled on cancer patients
New research provides a ray of hope for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy from losing their hair.
As per the new method, a patient wears a cold cap to keep the temperature of the scalp low, with a lotion containing antioxidants to help limit the cancer drug side effects.
Scientists claim they have discovered a "powerful double weapon" in efforts to prevent hair loss for cancer patients during chemotherapy.
Researchers at Sheffield Hallam University also found that cooling the scalp to 18C (64.4F) can prevent hair follicle damage, while 26C may not be enough.
Cold caps restrict the blood flow to the scalp, which reduces the amount of medication reaching the hair follicles.
Scientists hope the laboratory research will soon be trialled on cancer patients.
They are now reportedly finalising the antioxidants used in the topical product.
During the study, hair follicles were isolated from the scalp and grown in the lab before being treated with chemotherapy.
Dr Nik Georgopoulos, associate professor of cell biology at Sheffield Hallam, explained that while chemotherapy drugs kill rapidly-dividing cancer cells, they cannot discriminate between cancer cells and rapidly-dividing normal cells like hair follicles.
Hence, people lose hair during chemotherapy. But if the scalp is kept cool, it can prevent hair follicles from dying.
