Physicians at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have initiated a new programme known as 'Hair to Stay', to test devices that can reduce scalp hair loss in breast cancer patients.
As a part of the programme, researchers are enrolling patients to test a device known as DigniCap, which uses circulating coolant inside a gel cap to continuously cool the patient’s scalp during treatment.
When the scalp is cooled, the blood vessels surrounding the hair roots contract, which results in significant reduction of cytotoxins to the follicle.
The FDA approved pilot study will test the safety and effectiveness of the device.
As a part of another study, researchers are allowing patients to bring in their own caps and keep them cooled during chemotherapy to combat hair loss.