The Science
Chemotherapy-induced hair loss is one of the most distressing and troublesome side effects for the cancer patient. The use of scalp cooling has been shown to be an effective way of preventing or reducing the degree of hair loss following chemotherapy.
Paxman Scalp Cooling Systems have been shown to be very effective in preventing hair loss following a number of different chemotherapy regimes including Epirubicin, FEC, FAC, Docetaxel and Paclitaxel.¹
Cancer chemotherapy affects rapidly dividing cells and at any given time, 90% of human hair follicles are in the actively dividing phase. Hair loss frequently occurs due to partial or total atrophy of the hair root bulb, causing constriction of the hair shaft, which then breaks off easily.
Scalp cooling works by inducing vaso-constriction of blood vessels in the scalp, thereby leading to reduced blood flow to the hair follicles in the period of peak plasma concentration of the relevant chemotherapy agent. It is also postulated that reduced biochemical activity due to cooling makes hair follicles less vulnerable to the damage of chemotherapy agents.
Gregory et al² found that alopecia prevention occurred when scalp temperature was reduced below 22°C and Bulow et al³ demonstrated that a subcutaneous temperature below 22°C corresponds to an epicutaneous temperature of 19°C. Results from these tests indicate that the equipment used in the study reduced scalp temperatures to an optimum constant level for alopecia prevention.
The degree of success is determined by how well the scalp temperature is lowered and maintained throughout the treatment period. To achieve this Paxman has designed a special lightweight silicone cap which helps to achieve this. The company has carried out scientific tests to prove the effectiveness of the scalp cooling equipment, the results of which are shown on the graph below.
References
1. Paxman publication: Chemotherapy Induced Hair Loss.
2. Gregory RP, Cooke T, Middleton J, Buchanan RB, Williams CJ (1982) Prevention of doxorubicin-induced alopecia by scalp hypothermia; relation to degree of cooling. British Medical Journal 284, 1674.
3. Bulow J, Friberg L, Gaardsting O, Hansen M. Frontal subcutaneous blood flow, and epi and subcutaneous temperatures during scalp cooling in normal man. Scand J Clin Lam Invest 1985, 45, 505-508.
