• Healthy State
  • Careers
  • Education
  • Research
  • Giving
Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
  • About
  • Find A Doctor (current)
  • Find A Location
  • Specialties & Treatments
MyOchsner Logo
Login | Signup
Submit Search magnifying glass icon
Close Search X icon
  •   Home
  • In To Your Health...
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
  • I need to...
  • Find A Doctor
  • Find A Location
  • Find A Specialty
  • Schedule An Appointment
  • Pay A Bill
  • Explore
  • About Ochsner
  • Careers
  • Patients & Visitors
  • "To Your Health" Blog
  • Health Resources
  • Medical Professionals
  • Education
  • Philanthropy
  • Community Outreach
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Research
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Call: 1-866-624-7637
  • Online: Login to MyOchsner
  • Personalize your content
  • patient Edit Persona Persona Chooser
To Your Health

View Newsletter Editions
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
Cooling Cap Blog

What is a Cooling Cap?

Jan 3, 2019 |
Share Facebook Logo Twitter Logo Pinterest Logo Email Logo

The possibility of hair loss can be a frightening reality for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer. Imagine you've been recently diagnosed and have worked with your provider to determine that chemotherapy is one of your best treatment options. Weeks into treatment your hair begins to thin and come out, and you're trying to cope with the situation as well as you can, but you weren't ready to share your diagnosis with others yet. This is just one of many scenarios that could cause a chemotherapy patient apprehension as they consider the implications of their potential hair loss. 

In the late 80's, scientists discovered that cooling the scalp during chemotherapy could help minimize hair loss for those patients - a practice that has been continually enhanced with growing technology over the decades. 

How Do Cooling Caps Work?

The idea behind scalp hypothermia is that the cooling tightens up or constricts blood vessels in the scalp. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the constriction is thought to decrease the amount of chemo that reaches the cells of the hair follicles. The cold also decreases the activity of the hair follicles and makes them less attractive to chemotherapy, which targets rapidly dividing cells. This ultimately could reduce the effect of chemo on the follicle cells and as a result, prevent or reduce hair loss from the scalp.

Are Cooling Caps Effective?

The ACS reports that studies of older forms of scalp hypothermia (such as the use of ice packs) have returned conflicting results. They elaborate, however, that newer versions of these devices use a two-piece cooling cap system that is computer-controlled, which helps circulate a cooled liquid through a cap a person wears during each chemo treatment. A second cap, made from neoprene (a type of artificial rubber), covers the cooling cap to hold it in place and keep the cold from escaping.

Recent studies have found that approximately half of the women studied with early-stage breast cancer lost less than half of their hair when using this newer system.

Things to Consider

Like many treatments, cooling caps are not without side effects, as headaches, chills and neck and shoulder pain are commonly reported. Cooling cap users are also often advised to refrain from applying heat or color to their hair and may have to alter their hair-washing products and frequency.

Cooling cap success can rely on a range of factors including the specific chemotherapy drug, its dosage, a patient's hair thickness, and how well they tolerate cold. In order to decide if it might be right for you, speak with your provider to weigh the potential benefits and consequences. Lastly, don't forget to check with your insurance to determine if cooling cap therapy is covered, and what any associated costs would be.

Tags
cancer

You may also be interested in:

Thinkstockphotos 487320338 Woman Poolside With Hat And Juice Scaled
Conditions & Treatment
August 9, 2022

Chemotherapy and the Sun

Cancer patients' skin can be more prone to sun sensitivity if undergoing certain forms of chemo.
By Amanda Woolery, RN, BSN
Thinkstockphotos 480135293 Cancer Treatment Chemotherapy Room
Conditions & Treatment
August 9, 2022

What to Expect on Your First Day of Chemo

A step-by-step guide to a patient's first day of chemotherapy, along with strategies to reduce stress and anxiety.
By Amanda Woolery, RN, BSN
180064922 1 Intravenous Iv Drip
Conditions & Treatment
August 9, 2022

How Cancer Treatment Can Affect Heart Health

When dealing with cancer treatment, the last thing on your mind is likely the heart, but it is important to know that many cancer treatments can have immediate and long-term effects on the heart.

email envelop icon Comments about the blog? Send us an email!

Ochsner Health

Schedule An Appointment: 1-866-624-7637

Follow us: Facebook Follow Ochsner Health on TikTok Twitter Follow Ochsner Health on Twitter LinkedIn Visit Ochsner Health's LinkedIn page Instagram Follow Ochsner Health on Instagram YouTube Subscribe to Ochsner Health on YouTube Pinterest Follow Ochsner Health on Pinterest TikTok Follow Ochsner Health on TikTok

Healthy living tips newsletters, delivered to your inbox.

Sign Up

Patients & Visitors

  • Billing & Financial Services
  • Insurance Information
  • International Patients
  • Request Medical Records
  • Share Your Story
  • Read Patient Stories

Medical Professionals

  • Transfer a Patient
  • Refer a Patient

Health Resources

  • To Your Health Blog
  • Golden Opportunity
  • Healthy State
  • Ochsner Magazine

Job Seekers

  • Career Paths
  • Benefits
  • Open Positions

Employees

  • Webmail
  • OHSLink
  • Workday

Employers

  • Corporate Wellness
  • Medicare Advantage Plans

Community Outreach

  • Classes & Events
  • Programs
  • Community Health Needs Assessment
  • Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

Education

  • Graduate Medical Education
  • Clinical Medical Education
  • Continuing Medical Education
  • Medical Library
  • Publishing Services
  • Medical Illustrations

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Applied Health Services Research
  • Clinical Research & Trials
  • Nursing Research
  • Translational Research

Giving

  • Donate
  • Volunteer

About Ochsner

  • Mission & Vision
  • History
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Annual Report
  • Outcomes & Honors
  • News & Media
  • Alumni
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Contact Us

Shop

  • O Bar
  • Optical Shop
  • Ochsner Fitness Center
  • Brent House Hotel

© Ochsner Health  | Notice of Privacy Practices | Terms of Use | Vendor Information

Ochsner accepts all major insurances.

Ochsner is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, founded on providing the best patient care, research, and education.

We are one of the country’s largest non-university based academic medical centers.

Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Community Needs Health Assessment

EpicMobile Tablet | EpicMobile Phone

newsletter icon

Subscribe to Our Newsletters

newsletter icon

Select the newsletters you'd like to receive.

Please select at least one category to continue.

Curious about our newsletters?

View details for each edition
newsletter icon

Let us know where to send your newsletters.

To Your Health- Food and Fitness:
To Your Health- General:
To Your Health- Men’s Health:
To Your Health- Parenting:
To Your Health- Women’s Health:
To Your Health-Mental Health Monthly":
To Your Health- Skin Deep:

Source:
Source Description:
Marketing Goal:
newsletter icon

You're all set!

We’ll send newsletters full of healthy living tips right to your inbox.

Ochsner Health System
magnifying glass icon
ESC to Close

Begin Typing to Search

Select the drop-down to filter Search by Blog Articles or Sitewide