Scientists have unveiled a groundbreaking technique that offers cancer patients a “powerful double weapon” to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy. This innovative method pairs scalp cooling—a process where patients wear a cold cap to minimize hair follicle damage—with a topical lotion enriched with antioxidants found in red grapes and other natural sources.
The new study, hailed as a significant milestone, identifies the optimal scalp cooling temperature at 18°C to effectively shield hair follicles from chemotherapy’s harsh effects. Cooling at higher temperatures, such as 26°C, may fall short in providing sufficient protection.
Scalp cooling works by constricting blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the scalp and limiting the amount of chemotherapy drugs reaching the hair follicles. However, researchers at Sheffield Hallam University discovered that the addition of antioxidant-rich lotion significantly boosts the protective effects of cooling.
READ MORE: Queen Elizabeth ‘Feared Disaster’ Over Word Prince Harry and Meghan Used
READ MORE: BBC Bargain Hunt’s Anita Manning: Life Beyond the Screen, Real Age, and Pioneering Career
Dr. Nik Georgopoulos, Associate Professor of Cell Biology at Sheffield Hallam, emphasized the importance of this development: “Hair loss is often seen as the face of cancer because chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells, like those at the base of hair follicles, leading to hair loss.” He explained how chemotherapy drugs are non-discriminatory, affecting both cancer cells and normal rapidly dividing cells such as keratinocytes responsible for hair growth.
The research, published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, involved isolating hair follicles from the scalp and exposing them to chemotherapy drugs in the lab. Scientists observed that while chemotherapy induced follicle cell death, cooling prevented this damage—provided the temperature was optimal.
Recognizing that scalp cooling alone may not be effective for all patients—some scalp types don’t cool sufficiently—the team incorporated a topical antioxidant lotion containing compounds like resveratrol (found in red grapes and peanuts) and N-Acetylcysteine, a dietary supplement. Dr. Georgopoulos described this combination as a “powerful double weapon” that enhances the protective benefits of cooling, especially for “stubborn” scalps.
While the lotion alone isn’t potent enough to protect hair follicles, when used alongside precise scalp cooling, it multiplies the protective effects. Cooling narrows blood vessels, slows cell division, and reduces drug absorption in scalp cells, creating multiple layers of defense.
This technique has been developed in partnership with Huddersfield-based Paxman Scalp Cooling, whose device circulates coolant through a specialized cap worn by patients before, during, and after chemotherapy sessions.
With preparations underway to test this combined scalp cooling and antioxidant lotion technique in clinical trials, researchers are optimistic. Dr. Georgopoulos shared, “We believe this approach will not only dramatically improve protection against hair loss during chemotherapy but also accelerate hair recovery afterward.”