Will radiation therapy affect my hair?

The honest answer is YES.

Radiation therapy does cause hair loss but the hair loss only occurs on the side that is radiated. Rest assured, you will lose all hair on the side which is radiated. Once the radiation treatments are over, your hair will start to grow back. However, the rate and amount of growth is very variable. 

Most people will get their hair back, but the hair growth will never be 100 % of what it was prior to the radiation. The hair will also vary in texture and fullness. The reason for this is that different individuals receive different amounts of radiation and thus growth rate of hair is also affected. In at least 10-30 percent of people, the hair loss is permanent.

Besides your hair on the scalp, the radiation will also affect adjacent skin. The treated area will initially appear red and look like a sunburn. Moreover, the skin will also feel leathery and dry. So make sure you use adequate moisturizer on your scalp. The skin will also become extra sensitive to both the heat and cold; so make sure your head is adequately protected when you venture outside. If the skin does become irritated and itchy, you can apply a topical steroidal cream. 

Most people wear a wig or a hair piece until the hair loss has recovered- which can take anywhere from 3-9 months after the radiation treatments have stopped.

I’m having a lot of dandruff. I’m using Head and Shoulders, and it’s only getting worse. What’s wrong with me? Can you tell me how to get rid of it? It’s really embarrassing. (Male, 50)

Dandruff can be a very discomforting skin disorder that affects people of all ages. Having dandruff can cause a loss of self-esteem and lead to lack of confidence. Often individuals with dandruff will not wear dark garments because they worry that others may detect the flakes of dandruff. Dandruff in essence is a problem of dry scalp. Today, there are treatments that can help control the dandruff problem. However, not all individuals respond to the same treatment. It is important not to get disheartened if one shampoo does not work. It is necessary to give sufficient time to the shampoo before trying another product. 

For excessive dandruff, it is important to shampoo at least 2-3 times a week. This involves meticulously massaging the scalp so that all dead skin cells are removed. Since most dandruff shampoos are very harsh it is essential to follow directions. However, in some cases regular shampooing may not prevent irritation or itching of the scalp. Since many dandruff shampoos further dry the scalp it is important to use a conditioner after rinsing the dandruff shampoo. 

If head & shoulders has not worked, one may want to try a shampoo that contains selenium sulfide, such as Selsun Blue or Exsel. If this still does not reduce the dandruff in 3-4 weeks, then one may try shampoos containing salicylic acid (e.g. Sebex). If this fails, the next step is to use Nizoral AD, which is an anti fungal shampoo available over the counter. Some experts do recommend coal tar dandruff shampoos but these products often stain the linen, discolor hair and have a bad odor.

It is also important to alternate the shampoos since they lose efficiency over time. If shampooing does not help your dandruff, it is important see a doctor to make sure that you do not have a skin disorder like seborrhea dermatitis or psoriasis.

Whatever method of shampooing you select, it is important to be persistent. All dandruff treatments take time. Remember, what may work for one individual, may not work for you.

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Do lasers work for unwanted hair growth? Part 3

What does this mean for the consumer?

Removing unwanted hair is a challenge and there is no ideal treatment. There are many types of laser and intense pulse light treatments which are hyped up to removed hair. The reality is that most do not work or only work for 6 months. Moreover, you will also feel a lot of pain during the procedure. And finally the treatments are expensive.

In the end, it all boils down to personal choices. The first thing all consumers should understand is that cosmesis is big business. So never believe anything a cosmetician, physician or nurse that tells you like lasers permanently removes hair- they all tend to lie a wee bit.

If you are seeking treatment for unwanted hair, the choices are either hair free for 6 months and out of a lot of money or you can opt for something a lot cheaper like a razor or waxing and need to repeat the treatments every few weeks.

Do lasers work for unwanted hair growth? Part 2

No randomized study has ever shown that lasers permanently block hair growth.

Moreover, the investigators found that there was little or no evidence that intense pulsed light, neodymium: YAG or ruby lasers did much for hair removal. With these lasers the effects were mild and the hair free period was less than 3 months. Long-term hair removal was not documented with any treatment.

The consumer should also know that lasers do have side effects and in every study examined there were a few individuals who had pain, skin redness, swelling, burned hairs and skin pigmentary changes.

Do lasers work for unwanted hair growth? Part 1

Unwanted hair is simply not nice, especially for a female. Like acne, there are hundreds of products out on the market to get rid of unwanted hair. While some work, there is no permanent treatment - hair usually grows back.

Today, the majority of spas and clinics offer laser devices like alexandrite, diode, neodymium: YAG, and ruby lasers and intense pulsed light. There are thousands of ads hyping the benefits of lasers and their effectiveness. The facts are that these devices are expensive, have side effects, cause a lot of pain and to make matters worse- no one really knows if they remove hair permanently. For all those who have never been zapped by a laser, it is not a great experience.

In the present study, researchers reviewed randomized studies to determine if lasers really worked and how long the “hair free” period lasted.

It was discovered that the majority of published data on hair removal with lasers were only for 6 months. There was evidence that a short-term effect of roughly 50% hair reduction with alexandrite and diode lasers up to six months after treatment.

Can finasteride (propecia) help my hair grow?

Finasteride is the generic name for the brand names proscar and propecia. Finasteride was initially marketed for treatment of enlarged prostate. However, during the clinical trials it was observed that some men complained of hair growth. The amount of hair growth during these trials was never quantified and in most cases was mild. This did not stop the drug company from turning the product around and marketing it for males going bald. There is both a 1 mg pill and a topical solution available for hair growth.

How Finasteride Works

Finasteride inhibits an enzyme in the body called 5 alpha reductase. This enzyme normally converts testosterone into the more potent androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The company claims that the 1 mg pill can lower levels of DHT and help minimize hair loss. A lot of numbers are given by the company on the success of this drug in restoring hair.

So what is the real evidence?

If there ever was a scam, than this is it. Finasteride at best only grows a strand of hair here and there. There is not an individual on this universe that can step forward and claim to have decent hair growth following use of finasteride. Individuals have used finasteride for more than 5-10 years, and in the majority, the drug has done nothing. The drug is expensive and in 99.9999999% of individuals, it does nothing. In the other 0.000001% of individuals, they may get some pubic hair growth.

Therefore, the best advice for those who have loss of hair or baldness, get used to the condition or get a wig. There is no drug out there that will grow more than 1-2 hairs a year. Unfortunately, there is nothing in the drug market that works for hair growth. If you have no money and are going baldness, get used to that bald look, wear a hat or get rid of your mirror. If you have money and are going baldness, just enjoy life. Hair transplant is an option, but it is exorbitantly expensive and often does not work great. Baldness sucks especially when it occurs in the prime of your life, but I would rather be bald and have money, then be bald and having wasted all my money on a worthless drug.