Hair care method when taking letrozole or tamoxifen after chemotherapy

After long and difficult chemotherapy treatments, regrowing hair is a welcome sign of a new beginning. However, many women who have suffered from breast or ovarian cancer face another process of having to take medication that suppresses or regulates female hormones (estrogen) for at least 3 years or as long as 5 years to prevent recurrence of cancer. These drugs play a very important role in protecting life, but unfortunately, they have a detrimental effect on hair growth and regeneration, often preventing the hair from recovering as well as before chemotherapy. “I would like to emphasize that the more people take letrozole or tamoxifen, the more active they need to be in hair loss treatment and scalp care while taking the medication, and through this treatment and care, hair can be made healthier.”

1. Female hormone suppressants, why do they affect hair?

Female hormone suppressants are essential treatments that significantly lower the risk of cancer recurrence by blocking the action of estrogen, which drives the growth of certain cancer cells. However, because it blocks the positive functions of estrogen, which helps promote hair growth and maintain its abundance, the following changes in the scalp and hair may occur.

• Hair thinning and loss of density:After chemotherapy, new hair growth may be thin and thin, and the scalp may look bare.
• Slow growth:Hair growth noticeably slows down.
• Hair texture changes:Hair becomes dry, brittle, and prone to losing elasticity.
• Scalp dryness and sensitization:The scalp itself can become dry and sensitive to even minor stimuli.

2. It is important to ‘manage’ rather than ‘hold on’

Many people take female hormone suppressants for years and silently endure hair problems with the thought, “If only I could prevent cancer recurrence...” However, checking your unrecoverable hair in the mirror every day can become another major stress factor and reduce your quality of life, which in turn can create a vicious cycle that has a negative effect on hair loss. Hair care during this period should focus on safe and consistent care that optimizes the scalp environment and directly revitalizes the hair follicles, rather than on oral hair loss medication.

3. Active hair recovery management plan

If you consistently make the following efforts while taking hormone suppressants, you can clearly benefit from hair regeneration and improvement in thickness.

• Use of Topical Medication:It is recommended to consistently use medications that are sprayed or applied directly to the scalp, or scalp tonics and ampoules that stimulate hair follicles and improve blood circulation. At Lee Moonwon Clinic, we use a variety of topical treatments using natural ingredients such as plum blossom, cherry blossom, and celandine.
• Professional scalp care (head spa):It is very helpful to regularly receive professional help for scalp scaling, scalp massage, and highly concentrated nutritional care.
• Scalp injection therapy:Consulting with an expert and combining a procedure that injects nutrients and hair growth factors directly into the scalp can create a synergistic effect in awakening weakened hair follicles and promoting regeneration.
• Nutritional intake:It is recommended to take nutritional supplements such as protein, vitamin B, zinc, iron, and vitamin D. However, it is recommended that you consult with your doctor and check that it does not conflict with the medications you are currently taking before taking it.
• Treatment and management of scalp inflammation:During this period, the scalp is likely to become more sensitive. Always keep your scalp clean, and if it gets itchy or rashes, treat them immediately to prevent inflammation from interfering with hair recovery.

You are a stronger person than anyone else after overcoming your battle with cancer. Now, rather than thinking of the hair changes you experience while taking hormone suppressants as another homework and being frustrated, I hope you accept it as a new process of taking care of your body. Through active and consistent management, we can regain our health, abundant and beautiful hair, and welcome a brighter second life.