Chemotherapy can cause a number of side effects, including hair loss. For many cancer patients undergoing chemo, one of the most distressing potential side effects is losing their eyebrows. Eyebrows help frame your face and losing them can significantly alter your appearance. So a common question for those starting chemo is: do eyebrows stay during chemo or will they fall out like head hair?
Will Eyebrows Fall Out During Chemotherapy?
The effects of chemo on eyebrows varies from person to person. Some people may experience total eyebrow loss, while others may only have thinning or patchiness. According to most experts, if you are going to lose your eyebrows with chemo, they will likely begin falling out about 2-3 weeks after your first treatment.
The potential for eyebrow loss depends on the type and dose of chemotherapy drugs you receive. The most common chemo drugs associated with complete eyebrow loss include:
- Doxorubicin
- Paclitaxel
- Docetaxel
- Cyclophosphamide
- Cisplatin
However, any chemotherapy drug can cause eyebrow loss if the dose is high enough. Generally speaking, the higher the dose, the more likely the eyebrows will be affected.
Factors That Increase Risk of Eyebrow Loss
Some people are more prone to losing their eyebrows with chemo than others. Risk factors include:
- You are female – Studies show eyebrow loss is more common in women undergoing chemo. This may be because estrogen correlates with thicker eyebrow hair.
- You have thin eyebrows – The thicker and fuller your eyebrows are to begin with, the more hair you have to potentially lose before they look sparse.
- You have fine hair – People with fine, thin scalp hair tend to also have finer and thinner eyebrow hair that is more susceptible to chemo effects.
- You receive high chemo doses – Higher doses make eyebrow loss more likely than lower doses.
- You combine multiple chemotherapy drugs – Using more than one chemo drug together increases risk.
If you have one or more of these risk factors, you may want to be proactive about potential eyebrow loss before starting chemo.
Will Eyebrows Grow Back After Chemo?
The good news is that eyebrow hair tends to grow back after chemo is finished. However, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- It may take 3-6 months for eyebrows to fully grow back in.
- The regrowth may be patchy at first, with bare spots here and there.
- The new eyebrows may initially grow back finer and sparser.
- For some people, the new eyebrows never quite return to their original fullness.
Have patience, as it can take up to a year for eyebrows to completely stabilize and fill back in after chemo. In rare cases, the eyebrows do not fully return, which is more likely with heavy doses of chemotherapy.
What Can You Do About Eyebrow Loss During Chemo?
If you are concerned about losing your eyebrows during cancer treatment, there are some steps you can take:
- Talk to your oncologist – Understand your personal risk based on your chemo plan. Your doctor may alter the medications or doses if your eyebrows are a big concern.
- Consider scalp cooling – This involves wearing a cold cap during chemo infusions to constrict blood vessels and limit drug exposure to hair follicles. It may help save eyebrows along with head hair.
- Ask about preventative Rogaine – Applying Rogaine foam to the brows before chemo may prevent hair loss.
- Pre-emptive tattooing – Some women opt to have their eyebrows tattooed on before starting chemo.
If you do lose your eyebrows, don’t worry. Here are some options to get you through the process:
- Use brow pencils, powders, or gels to fill them in daily.
- Try eyebrow stencils to pencil or powder in the shape.
- Consider microblading, a semi-permanent tattoo technique.
- Get false eyebrows or wigs attached with glue or tape.
- Embrace the natural look until they grow back!
What About Eyelashes During Chemo?
Will eyelashes fall out during chemo like eyebrows? The likelihood of eyelash loss (a condition called madarosis) is about the same as for the eyebrows. The same chemo drugs that commonly cause eyebrow loss can also make eyelashes fall out. Just like the brows, eyelashes tend to grow back once chemo treatment ends, but it may take 3-6 months. False eyelash extensions or wigs can disguise the loss in the meantime. Your oncologist can let you know if the chemotherapy regimen you will receive carries a high risk for losing eyelashes.
Coping With Hair Loss During Cancer Treatment
Losing your hair, including eyebrows and eyelashes, can be an emotionally difficult side effect of chemotherapy. Here are some tips that may help you cope:
- Remember it is only temporary. Your hair will grow back!
- Focus on the goal to beat your cancer.
- Many women feel empowered rocking a bold, bald look.
- Spend time with supportive friends and family who build you up.
- Join a support group to connect with others in the same situation.
- See your reflections as a sign of strength and survival.
- Pamper yourself with luxuries like massages, facials and shopping sprees.
Hair loss can be an unpleasant but expected side effect of chemo in many cases. Understanding if and how your eyebrows and eyelashes may be impacted can help you prepare. With a little patience and TLC, your hair has an excellent chance of returning once your cancer treatment ends.
Conclusion
Losing your eyebrows and eyelashes can be distressing when going through chemotherapy. However, take heart knowing the hair loss is often temporary. With a proactive approach, you can explore preventative options with your doctor and have plans in place to disguise any thinning brows or lashes. Being prepared can help you face treatment with less worry about hair loss. And remember, your hair does not define you. You are beautiful with or without your eyebrows and eyelashes! Focus on your health, lean on your support system, and trust that this is just a brief phase on your journey to recover from cancer.