Eyebrow Loss (Alopecia)
and Chemotherapy
One of the most important features of our face is our eyebrows. They
are an important part of our attractiveness and play a vital role
in our nonverbal communication. Remember Norma Desmond in the 1950
classic
Sunset Boulevard?
Eyebrows create a frame for our face. Properly
shaped eyebrows can
make our eyes look larger and
our demeanor more open and inviting.
Improperly
shaped eyebrows can make our eyes look small or narrow
and our demeanor closed and uninviting.
Research suggests that eyebrows play a vital role in
the expression
of emotions. They can be used to convey surprise, fear, disgust,
anger, sadness, and happiness.
But eyebrows are not all show – they
have a purpose
as well: to protect the eyes from dust and debris.
The effect of our eyebrows isn’t truly understood until
we
don’t have them. Losing one’s eyebrows is one
of the
most distressing side effects of chemotherapy treatments. The powerful
medication used in chemotherapy to attack cancer cells also attack
other rapidly-growing cells in your body -- including the hair roots
in your scalp, face, and other areas.
Eyebrow loss does not occur with all chemotherapy. Whether or not
your eyebrow hairs remains as they
are, become thin, or fall out
depends on the drugs and dosage. Your medical professional can guide
you. However, research shows that no treatment exists that
can guarantee your eyebrows won't fall out during or
after chemotherapy.
If you are facing chemotherapy, and you already know
that you may
lose your hair, you’ve probably been
thinking about wigs and
other coverups. But what about your eyebrows? The best way for you
to deal with impending eyebrow hair loss is to plan ahead and focus
on making yourself comfortable with your appearance before, during,
and after your cancer treatment.
Alopecia
There are many different types of hair loss, or alopecia.
Hair loss can be due to different types of medications such as those
taken for gout, arthritis, depression, hypertension, chemotherapy,
and heart problems.
One’s immune system can also cause hair
loss. The immune system helps defend the body from bacteria, viruses,
and foreign substances. Sometimes the immune system mistakes hair
follicles for a foreign substance
and attacks them. In severe cases,
hair all over the body
is lost when the immune system attacks hair
follicles. This is called alopecia universalis.
The nuBrow® Alternative
Until now there has not been a natural-looking solution
to replace
eyebrow loss due to chemotherapy. nuBrow®
is an ideal
alternative to pencils, stencils, and tattoos. nuBrow®
was designed to be placed over the natural brow line using a special
adhesive. These flexible, natural-looking brows will stay on but
can be removed easily, without skin irritation. And, with care,
they can be worn for months.
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