Anagen Effluvium
Anagen effluvium is the clinical name for hair loss that occurs as a result of cancer therapy with chemotherapy. Losing your hair is one of the drastic side effects of the life-saving treatment, but it may not feel like a positive thing at the time. To receive supportive, compassionate hair loss restoration in New York City, call on the experts at Linkov Hair Surgery. They have the most up-to-date professional hair loss solutions and anagen effluvium treatments to get you through this difficult time. Whether you need a natural-looking wig or PRP injections, your anagen effluvium treatments are delivered at the best price, discreetly and for as long as necessary.
What Is Anagen Effluvium?
The term effluvium refers to active hair loss of more than 100 hairs a day over the course of a few weeks. Alopecia is the clinical term for hair loss and refers to a reduction of hair density. Anagen effluvium is rapid hair loss during the growing phase of the hair growth cycle, a condition that’s commonly caused by harsh treatments with chemotherapy or exposure to other strong toxins. It’s a temporary condition, and hair growth resumes after the cause is no longer present.
Losing your hair for any reason can damage your self-confidence. If you’re looking for anagen effluvium treatment, rely on Dr. Gary Linkov, the best hair loss doctor in New York at Linkov Hair Surgery, where you’ll find all the services you need at the best price. Your expert hair restoration specialist treats most types of hair loss, including:
What Causes Anagen Effluvium?
Anagen effluvium is often referred to as chemotherapy-induced alopecia, since the most common cause of the condition is cancer treatments using chemotherapy or radiation. Hair loss usually starts within one to three weeks of beginning treatment and becomes more noticeable after a month or two. Anagen effluvium can also be caused by exposure to toxic chemicals, such as:
- Thallium
- Arsenic
- Lead
- Colchicine
- Warfarin
This condition may also be caused by severe infections. When you suffer from anagen effluvium, you experience abrupt hair loss because of an injury to your hair follicles in the growing phase. As a result, your hair may fall out in clumps during shampooing or brushing. This causes thinning all over, sometimes leading to total baldness.
Do I Have Anagen Effluvium?
During your initial consultation, your NYC hair loss doctor takes a detailed medical history and does a physical examination. The goal is to confirm that your hair loss is caused by anagen effluvium and not another type of hair loss. Other systemic illnesses can also trigger hair loss, such as:
Some types of hair loss are hereditary, while others may be due to a nutrient deficiency or an autoimmune disease. These underlying conditions can be triggered by the chemotherapy treatments you’re undergoing. Alopecia triggered by radiation may be temporary or permanent.
Why Does Chemotherapy Cause Hair Loss?
Chemotherapy drugs, which are the medications used to treat cancer, are powerful substances that destroy rapidly growing cancer cells. Unfortunately, they can’t be targeted exclusively to cancer cells, so they attack other areas where rapid growth is occurring, such as hair roots. You experience hair loss all over your body, including your:
- Eyebrows
- Eyelashes
- Arm hair
- Leg hair
- Pubic hair
Different chemotherapy drugs cause different side effects, and the amount of hair loss you see varies based on a combination of factors, such as specific medications and the dosage and duration of treatment. Anagen effluvium caused by chemotherapy is a temporary condition and a non-scarring alopecia, meaning your hair follicles remain intact. Your hair starts regrowing a few months after you complete treatment, although it may have a different texture, thickness or shade than your original hair.
How Does the Hair Growth Cycle Work?
Your hair is constantly growing. As some hairs fall out, others replace them. Hair grows in predictable cycles that consist of three phases:
Anagen This is the growing phase, which lasts about four years. During this phase, the cells involved in hair growth are among the most rapidly replicating cells in the human body.
Catagen This is a transitional phase in which growth stops and the hair follicles shrink.
Telogen This is a resting phase. At the end of this phase, which lasts a few weeks, hairs tend to fall out.
In a normal hair cycle, approximately 80 percent of your hair growth happens in the anagen phase. After the telogen phase, the hair follicle restarts the anagen phase and hair begins to grow again.
What Anagen Effluvium Treatments Are Available?
You may not give any thought to your hair until you’re faced with this side effect of cancer treatment. Patients experiencing the dramatic hair loss caused by chemotherapy are sometimes so upset they want to discontinue treatment. Instead, investigate anagen effluvium treatment methods with an experienced hair restoration expert. Some hair loss treatment methods to consider include:
- Minoxidil This medication comes in foam or liquid applications. It’s sold under the brand name Rogaine, as well as generic brands. While you can’t completely avoid hair loss from chemotherapy, using this topical treatment can shorten the amount of time before hair begins to grow again.
- Scalp cooling therapy Applying cooling caps for a period of time before and after chemotherapy may help to reduce hair loss.
Hair replacement systems — which include toupees, wigs and hairpieces — cover bald spots or areas of thinning hair. They’re made using either synthetic or human hair and can be designed to match your hair color and texture. This provides a natural-looking solution to chemotherapy-induced hair loss. Hats and changes in hairstyle are other options for covering up hair loss.
What Else Do I Need to Know about Chemotherapy-Induced Hair Loss?
Treatment for anagen effluvium aims to reduce the amount of time cancer patients suffer from hair loss. Do what you can to protect your hair and scalp while you’re undergoing treatment, but remember to:
- Protect the skin on your scalp from the sun or from extreme cold or heat.
- Sleep on a satin pillowcase, which helps stop hair from coming out in clumps.
- Avoid too much brushing or pulling of your hair with curling irons or rollers.
Having cancer is difficult enough without having to feel self-conscious about losing a large amount of your hair. Hair loss has a negative impact on your perception of your appearance. Hair loss from any cause is distressing, but investigate sudden hair loss that’s not related to chemotherapy. Contact the experts at Linkov Hair Surgery to find out the best hair loss treatment options for you. Schedule a consultation today.
