Korean Researchers Prove Effectiveness of Scalp Cooling Caps in Preventing Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia

A team of Korean researchers has demonstrated the effectiveness of scalp cooling caps, commonly known as “cooling caps,” in preventing persistent hair loss following chemotherapy. Patients who used these caps as an adjunct therapy exhibited a significantly lower rate of continued hair loss compared to those in the control group.

Professor Ahn Jin-seok from the Division of Hematology-Oncology at Samsung Medical Center led a clinical trial involving 139 breast cancer patients in stages 1 to 3, conducted from 2020 to 2021. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of cooling caps in a domestic setting.

The trial divided the participants into two groups: 89 patients who used the cooling caps and 50 patients who did not. The researchers compared the two groups based on the persistence of hair loss, hair quantity and thickness, and the level of stress related to hair loss.

Cooling caps contain a coolant that is chilled to -30 degrees Celsius. When applied to the scalp, the cold constricts blood vessels and slows blood circulation, thereby reducing the impact of chemotherapy drugs on hair follicles and preventing hair loss.

The cooling caps function by circulating coolant through embedded tubes to maintain a consistent temperature and reduce scalp heat. Patients wore the caps for 30 minutes before and 90 minutes after chemotherapy sessions. To ensure accurate comparisons, participants were instructed not to shave their heads during the study period.

The results showed a significant difference in the rate of persistent hair loss six months post-chemotherapy. In the control group, 52% of patients experienced persistent hair loss, compared to only 13.5% in the cooling cap group. This indicates that persistent hair loss was about four times higher in the control group.

Six months after treatment, the control group’s hair thickness decreased by 7.5 micrometers (μm), while the cooling cap group’s hair thickness increased by 1.5 μm. Although there was no initial difference in hair thickness between the two groups, a 9.1 μm difference was observed post-treatment.

Additionally, six months after chemotherapy, 32% of the control group resorted to wearing wigs to conceal hair loss, compared to 17% in the cooling cap group. Patients using the cooling caps also reported significantly lower stress levels related to hair loss at the six-month mark.

Professor Ahn Jin-seok explained, “Wearing a cooling cap reduces damage to hair follicles, increasing the likelihood of quicker and thicker hair regrowth post-chemotherapy. Addressing hair loss is crucial for improving patients’ quality of life, making it an integral part of comprehensive cancer treatment.”

The findings of this study were published in the recent issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology under the title “Scalp Cooling in Preventing Persistent Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.”

Cooling caps are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and are included in cancer treatment guidelines in the U.S. and Europe. They are currently undergoing the registration process as a new medical technology in Korea.

The Samsung Medical Center’s Cancer Education Center provides the following scalp and hair care guidelines for patients post-chemotherapy:

△Use mild and gentle shampoos.
△Avoid strong heat and wind from hair dryers.
△Minimize stress, malnutrition, and alcohol consumption.
△Wear cotton scarves or caps while sleeping.
△Frequently apply moisturizers to dry scalps.
△Use cotton pillowcases.
△Apply sunscreen to the scalp when going outdoors.