As far as the Cancer treatment is concerned, the most widely known treatment be Chemotherapy.
Even though we have many advancements in Cancer treatments,
Chemotherapy be the ideal one in most of the cases. The major side
effect that people face while undergoing Chemotherapy is hair loss. To
minimize this, FDA has approved Cooling Caps that can be used during the
treatment in order to reduce hair loss. So, let’s have a look at what
Cooling caps are?
So, What are Cooling Caps?
Cooling
Caps are devices that are designed to reduce hair loss in people who
undergo Chemotherapy as a part of their Cancer treatment. FDA initially
cleared the device, the DigniCap® Scalp Cooling System, for patients
with breast cancer in 2015.
How does it work?
Scalp cooling has been in use in Europe for several decades where it is thought to prevent hair loss by reducing the blood flow to hair follicles. Cooling the scalp causes the blood vessels to constrict, which may limit the amount of chemotherapy drug that reaches the hair follicles.
Cold
caps and scalp cooling systems are tightly fitting, strap-on,
helmet-type hats filled with a gel coolant that’s chilled to between -15
to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. These caps are worn for 20 to 50 minutes
before, during and after the treatment. Cold caps and scalp cooling
systems are slightly different. Cold caps are similar to ice packs. Kept
in a special freezer before they’re worn, cold caps thaw out during a chemotherapy infusion session
and need to be replaced with a new cap about every 30 minutes. With
scalp cooling systems, the cap is attached to a small refrigeration
machine that circulates coolant, so the cap only has to be fitted once
and doesn’t need to changed during chemotherapy. However, the usage and
cost depends on the duration of treatment.
The
DigniCap System approved by FDA uses a tightly fitted cap in which cold
liquid circulates to cool the scalp before, during, and after
chemotherapy. This cap, which is connected to a machine that regulates
the cooling process, is covered by an outer cap, made of neoprene, that
acts as an insulator.
People who use Cooling Caps are generally asked to follow the below provided:
- no blow drying, hot rollers, or straightening irons
- shampoo only every third day with cool water and a gentle shampoo
- no coloring until 3 months after chemotherapy is done
- gentle combing and brushing
Source: https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2017/fda-cooling-cap-chemotherapy | https://www.breastcancer.org/tips/hair_skin_nails/cold-caps
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