Call (866) 471-8869 for FREE Consultation
Trending Now: Cutting-Edge Product May Prevent Hair Loss in Cancer Patients
by Matthew Dello Russo
Great news for cancer patients around the globe: The FDA recently approved the first cooling cap designed specifically to treat hair loss (alopecia) in female patients undergoing chemotherapy.
During chemotherapy, hair loss is one of the most recognizable symptoms and often one that has the most severe emotional impact. For many, it can be one of the most traumatic parts of treatment for an illness they’d rather keep private.
A New Solution
With the introduction of the DigniCap, that may no longer be the case. The cooling cap, designed and manufactured by the Swedish company Dignitana, Inc., is a two-piece system regulated by a computer. The smart cap circulates a cooled liquid through the cap worn by patients during chemotherapy treatments.
In a recent study, Dr. Hope Rugo, the director of breast oncology at U.C.S.F. and four other oncologists tested the DigniCap system on 122 women undergoing standard chemo regimens for breast cancer. More than two-thirds of the patients retained more than half of their hair during treatment. This groundbreaking product may pave the way for many more commercially-available products specifically designed to aid those undergoing chemotherapy.
The science behind the caps is actually quite simple: when very cold agents (ie: the caps) are applied to the scalp, the blood vessels constrict. This process is called vasoconstriction, a mechanism by which the body regulates and maintains mean arterial pressure. If the scalp is properly cooled (for both time and temperature), vasoconstriction stops the cancer-fighting drugs from ever reaching and damaging hair follicles in the treated area. Since caps are only applied to the scalp, the drug agents are able to work throughout the rest of the body without interference.
Minor Roadblocks
So far, there has only been one setback; since the technology is so new, many insurance plans don't cover it yet. Without insurance approval, costs often become unmanageable – something the creators and supports of the DigniCap want to avoid. According to Dignitana COO Bill Cronin, pricing would depend on the number rounds required, and the price could range anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000 total.
The haircare industry has rallied behind the caps in an effort to make them more available. "I think a lot of times people are regarded as being different after they do lose their hair and it does have an effect," professional stylist Andrew Todd said.
Todd, the principal owner of diPietro Todd Salons in the Bay Area, has organized a movement to make these caps more budget-friendly for individuals of all income levels. He has gone as far as to pledge one percent of all retail sales to a special cool cap fund, which will in turn be applied to clients that may be unable to afford the caps outright.
"We don't want it to be a question of only rich people can keep their hair, we want everybody to be able to keep their hair," Todd said.
The group is already making a huge impact; organizers received a major grant from the Lazlo Tauber Family Foundation and are looking to expand their network across the county, possibly by recruiting the help of major haircare companies and designers.
If you or someone you know would like to learn more about hair loss and how to treat it, please feel free to schedule a consultation or contact one of our representatives today!
Call 866-471-8869 for FREE Consultation
