Side Effect: Changes in Hair Texture

What is a Change in Hair Texture?

Hair texture describes how your hair feels. Hair texture can change in patients with cancer due to the type of cancer treatment that is being given. These treatments can damage or destroy hair follicles, which can change how the hair grows, feels, and looks.

What does a Change in Hair Texture look like?

A change in hair texture can look different for each person.

• Some patients with cancer may re-grow hair that feels thinner while others may grow hair that is thicker.
• Sometimes, the hair that re-grows may look different and may be more straight or curly, or even a different color.
• Hair may also be more brittle or coarse.

Who gets Changes in Hair Texture?

Patients with cancer who undergo chemotherapy treatment have the greatest chance of developing hair texture changes. 

The extent of hair texture changes can depending upon the type of treatment, dose, and the patient’s sensitivity to the drug.
Examples of cancer treatment that can change hair texture include:

• Targeted therapies (erlotinib, cetuximab, gefitinib, lapatinib, panitumumab)
• BRAF inhibitors (encorafenib, dabrafenib, vemurafenib)
• Alkylating agents (busulfan, cyclophosphamide, etoposide)
• Taxane therapy (paclitaxel, docetaxel)
• Doxorubicin
• Daunorubicin
• Irinotecan
• Topotecan
• Antimicrotubule agents (paclitaxel, docetaxel, vincristine, vinblastine)
• Radiation
• Endocrine therapy (leuprolide, tamoxifen, raloxifene, anastrozole, exemestane, letrozole, octreotide)

How long do changes in hair texture from chemotherapy last?

Hair texture and color often reverts back to normal several months after stopping or changing treatment.

How to prevent Changes in Hair Texture

It is difficult to prevent changes in hair texture. Some hair health tips include:

• Use gentle hair products to help nourish the hair.
• Avoid heat styling tools and chemical treatments as these can damage the hair.

How to treat Changes in Hair Texture

Treatment of hair texture changes may depend on the extent and severity of the change. In some cases, hair texture changes may improve over time as the patient recovers from cancer treatment. If you are concerned, consider speaking to a dermatologist or a specialist that focuses on hair and scalp care (trichologist) for specialized hair care advice.