Intro to Vitamin A and Chemo Hair Loss
Chemo certainly kills cancer. It destroys rapidly dividing cells which include both cancer cells and healthy cells.
Since hair follicles are some of the fastest growing cells in the body, they are targeted by the chemo causing hair loss.
Normally, cells in your hair follicles divide every 24 to 72 hours.
Within 1-3 weeks of chemo treatments, hair follicles can be damaged, and chemo hair loss can happen gradually or fairly quickly.
After your last treatment, it takes several weeks or so for the chemotherapy treatment to leave your body and stop attacking your healthy, rapidly dividing cells. You want to be diligent, especially in these first 68 days, to be sure your hair gets all the right attention to get hair growth at its best.
Hair growth may be slow at first, but we are here to help you maximize your hair growth.
Many overlook how important vitamin A is to our body, including our hair and skin.
Vitamin A is essential for cells to grow. Hair is the fastest growing tissue in the human body, therefore, vitamin A helps hair grow. Skin glands also use vitamin A to produce sebum. Sebum keeps the scalp moisturized and hair healthy.
It’s important to have the proper education about what you need to do to ensure long-term hair growth, or you could end up with weak, thinning hair.
Vitamin A and Chemo Hair Loss
Before you continue reading, it’s important to note that we are not medical professionals, so we don’t give medical advice or make claims.
The most common sign of vitamin A deficiency is the inability to see in low light called xerophthalmia. If left untreated, it may cause blindness.
A long-term deficiency of vitamin A can also lead to a higher risk of respiratory diseases and infections. It can also cause anemia (a condition in which the red blood cells do not supply enough oxygen to the body).
Vitamin A is found naturally in many foods and is added to some foods, such as milk. You can get recommended amounts of vitamin A by eating a variety of foods, including the following:
1. Some types of fish, such as herring and salmon
2. Beef liver and other organ meats
3. Green leafy vegetables and other green, orange, and yellow vegetables, such as spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots, broccoli, and winter squash
4. Fruits, including cantaloupe, mangos, and apricots
5. Dairy products, such as milk and cheese
6. Eggs
It’s important to remember taking too much vitamin A can lead to hair loss.
Conclusion to Vitamin A and Chemo Hair Loss
If you are concerned with your vitamin A levels, contact your doctor to have your levels checked. There are also some at home vitamin level test kits available online.
The best defense against hair loss is to eat a variety of nutrient-dense foods. To ensure you are growing your best hair possible, you must use gentle, natural, and nourishing hair care products. Make sure they are SLS (sodium laurel sulfate) free and chemical-free and nasties free.
Belegenza Natural Hair Care has taken the guesswork out of which hair care products are right for you. They continuously research ingredients to provide you with the best and safest possible. Check out the Chemo Feel Better Look Better NOW package for your hair and scalp needs. Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp!