Being diagnosed with cancer is one of life’s toughest experiences that brings many physical and emotional challenges. For many patients, chemotherapy is a crucial part of their treatment journey. It is a powerful and life-saving therapy that is designed to attack cancer cells.

While the therapy is beneficial, it also affects healthy cells and leads to several side effects. One of the common and most difficult side effects is hair loss. Losing hair often feels like losing a part of oneself during an already overwhelming journey.

The fear of hair loss can sometimes even make patients hesitate or feel anxious about starting chemotherapy. But thanks to advanced techniques that help reduce this side effect.

This technique is known as scalp cooling, designed to reduce chemotherapy-induced hair loss, which helps patients to maintain their confidence throughout the treatment.

In this blog, let’s explore what scalp cooling is, how it works, who can benefit from it, and what to expect during the process. 

What is Scalp Cooling?

Scalp cooling, also known as cold cap therapy, involves cooling the scalp is cooled, before, during, and after chemotherapy. This technique works by narrowing the blood vessels beneath the scalp skin, which limits the amount of chemotherapy drugs to reach the hair follicles and thus reduces the hair loss.

The cooling is done using a special cap filled with gel or liquid coolant, and an automated machine circulates the coolant through the scalp.

Types of Scalp Cooling Devices

There are two types of scalp cooling devices:

Manual Cold Caps

• Gel-filled caps that are manually cooled in a freezer or with dry ice.
• The patient needs to wear the cap before, during, and after the chemotherapy session.
• It must be changed every 20-30 minutes because as soon as the cap comes into contact with the head, it starts to warm.
• These are manual and are less expensive, but not approved by the FDA.

Automated Scalp Cooling System

• The cap is connected to a machine that constantly circulates the refrigerated liquid or gel throughout the cap.
• The patient needs to wear the cap before, during, and after the session.
• It is regulated by the FDA, and there is no need to manually change the cap.
• These caps are only induced in solid tumor cancers such as breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers, not blood cancers.

How Does It Work?

When the patient wears the cap before, during, and after the chemotherapy session, the cap will cool your scalp and temporarily constrict the blood flow to that area. It decreases the amount of chemotherapy drugs to reach the hair follicles.

Cooling the scalp also slows down the metabolic activity of the hair follicle cells, resulting in less hair loss. 

More than 50% patients using the scalp cooling technique retained a significant amount of hair.

The Scalp Cooling Process

A typical scalp cooling process consists of the following steps:

• Pre-Cooling: The cooling cap is placed for 30 to 45 minutes before the chemotherapy starts.

• During Chemotherapy: The cap remains on while the patient receives the chemotherapy.
• Post-Cooling: The cap stays on the patient’s head for 60 to 90 minutes after the therapy to ensure drug levels drop in the bloodstream.

The entire session can last up to 2-3 hours, depending on the treatment.

Benefits of Scalp Cooling

Here are some of the benefits of scalp cooling:

• Reduce or prevent hair loss
• Improves emotional well-being
• Boost self-esteem and mental health
• Non-invasive and safe
• Better social and professional confidence
• Temperature regulation to avoid scalp discomfort, itching, or rashes

Is Scalp Cooling Suitable for Everyone Undergoing Chemotherapy?

Scalp cooling is not recommended for everyone and differs from case to case, including the type of cancer.

It is recommended for:

• Breast cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Lung cancer
• Colorectal cancer

It is not recommended for people:

• Having central nervous system cancer
• Getting chemotherapy to prepare for a bone marrow transplant
• Had radiation therapy to the skull
• Have blood cancers
• Have severe liver problems

It is also not recommended for children under 18 years of age.

Side Effects

Scalp cooling side effects are safe and rare, but some people may experience:

• Headaches
• Chills or discomfort from the cold
• Nausea
• Dry skin
• Scalp pain or tightness during the session
• Claustrophobia

These side effects are generally temporary and improve once the session ends.

Also Read:- Chemotherapy cost in India

Final Thoughts

Scalp cooling is a significant advancement in cancer care, helping patients to preserve their hair, confidence, and self-esteem during a challenging journey. For many, looking in the mirror and still seeing their hair can be the difference between feeling like a patient… and feeling like themselves. With newer and more advanced systems being introduced in hospitals across India and globally, cold capping in chemotherapy is becoming a more accessible and effective option.

If you or someone you love is preparing to undergo chemotherapy, don’t hesitate to explore scalp cooling. It might just make a meaningful difference, not only in how you look, but in how strong, confident, and resilient you feel.