&w=3840&q=100)
How a new 'milestone' technique could help chemo patients from losing their hair
Developed by researchers at Sheffield Hallam University, the new method builds on existing scalp cooling technology by adding a topical antioxidant lotion to the mix. Image courtesy: Paxman Scalp Cooling
For many cancer patients, hair loss during chemotherapy is one of the most emotionally difficult parts of treatment.
For most patients, maintaining their hair is not just about vanity –it's about holding on to a part of themselves—their identity, confidence, and a sense of control in the middle of something so uncertain. That's why scalp cooling caps, also known as cold caps, have become increasingly common in cancer wards.
Now, scientists believe they may have found something even better. A new approach, described as a 'powerful double weapon', combines scalp cooling with an antioxidant-rich lotion, using ingredients like those found in red grapes.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
So, how does it work? Here's what we know.
Why does chemotherapy cause hair loss?
Hair loss during chemotherapy isn't just a side effect, it's often what makes the experience of cancer visible. Dr Nik Georgopoulos, associate professor of cell biology and a Transforming Lives fellow at Sheffield Hallam University, calls it the 'face of cancer.'
'The reason why people get hair loss is because, at the base of the hair follicles, there are these rapidly dividing cells that are actually feeling the toxicity of chemotherapy drugs,' he explained.
'Chemotherapy drugs are drugs that kill rapidly dividing cancer cells, but they cannot discriminate between cancer cells and rapidly dividing normal cells in the body,' he added.
'At the base of our hair follicles are these rapidly dividing cells, or keratinocytes, that constantly grow and they end up forming the actual hair.'
Because of this, many patients begin to notice thinning or shedding within just a few weeks of starting treatment.
Chemotherapy drugs are drugs that kill rapidly dividing cancer cells, but they cannot discriminate between cancer cells and rapidly dividing normal cells in the body. Image for Representation.
One of the existing solutions to help reduce this is the scalp cooling cap. These cold caps lower the temperature of the scalp during chemo sessions, narrowing blood vessels and reducing the amount of toxic medication that reaches the follicles. This slows down the activity of hair-producing cells, giving them a better chance of surviving treatment.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Though cold caps have helped many patients preserve some of their hair, they're not equally effective for everyone. Results can vary depending on the chemotherapy drugs used, how long the cooling is applied, and even differences in scalp shape or hair thickness.
What does the new treatment do differently?
Developed by researchers at Sheffield Hallam University, the new method builds on existing scalp cooling technology by adding a topical antioxidant lotion to the mix.
The lotion contains compounds like resveratrol and N-acetyl cysteine, both known for their antioxidant properties. Interestingly, resveratrol is also found in red grapes and has long been studied for its potential health benefits.
In their study, published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, scientists isolated hair follicles from the scalp and grew them in lab conditions. They were then treated with chemotherapy drugs to mimic real-world effects.
Dr Nik Georgopoulos, who led the research, explained why the added lotion could make a difference. 'For some patients, cooling works, and for others it doesn't,' he said. 'Because some heads—I call them stubborn—they don't cool enough.'
By adding the antioxidant lotion during the cooling process, the team saw promising results in the lab. 'We form a powerful double weapon that, based on our results in the lab, showed us it can transform the ability of cooling to protect,' Georgopoulos said.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
However, he clarified that the lotion on its own wouldn't be enough. 'The antioxidant is not 'powerful enough' when used alone,' he said. 'The reason for that is cooling does multiple amazing things at the same time.'
The research found that cooling the scalp to 18 degrees Celsius helps prevent hair follicle damage, while milder cooling—around 26 degrees Celsius—wasn't as effective. Combining the right temperature with the antioxidant blend improved follicle protection significantly.
The team also collaborated with Paxman Scalp Cooling, a company that produces cooling caps for chemotherapy patients. These caps circulate coolant through a fitted cap, worn by patients starting 30 minutes before chemo, during treatment, and for up to 90 minutes afterwards.
Scientists are now finalising which antioxidants to use in the topical product for future testing. Georgopoulos believes this combination could not only enhance hair preservation during treatment but also speed up hair regrowth afterwards.
'Our ongoing work will ensure that efficacy is as high as possible,' he said, 'with the belief that a topical agent will not only dramatically enhance the efficacy of scalp cooling, but also significantly accelerates hair recovery post chemotherapy.'
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
With input from agencies
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
What my lesbian relationship taught me about interdependence
My girlfriend and I have a night routine that starts promptly at 8:30. After I make dinner and we trade stories about our day, we set up camp on the couch to continue watching the latest scandal in Desperate Housewives or Vanderpump Rules. We each have our jobs when it's time to finally migrate to bed. She does the dishes, and I pack our lunches for the next day. She sets up our toothbrushes, and I turn off the lights. We go to bed each setting two alarms: one for ourselves, one for the other. These may be small acts, but to me, they are everything. Being in this partnership has given me both freedom and trust in ways I didn't know were possible. Before, the idea of being in a relationship meant working hard at every corner to preserve your sense of self. Now, the forging together of our lives has brought me true peace and joy. Our relationship has brought me distinctly recognizable fulfillment in both the giving and receiving of care that feels intrinsically connected to my lesbianism. So, where does this myth of independence originate? You know, the one that says our freedom is at stake if we can't be completely self-reliant. Or the one that says our identity is less than if we need something. In reality, there isn't a single person who doesn't rely on someone. Whether it's the train you take to work, the doctor you see when you're sick, the friend you call when you're sad: we need each other. We've been conditioned to believe that we can navigate life independently. But we can't. Suppose we can agree that codependency, especially in relationships, can be a symptom of heteronormativity and patriarchy. In that case, hyper-independence might seem like the natural challenger, but let me raise another point: the joy of interdependence. Interdependence doesn't have tunnel vision; there is not just "me" or "you," there is us together, us by ourselves, us for ourselves, and everything in between. Interdependence reveals that individuality and connection are two sides of the same coin. It focuses on how each person in a relationship can feel seen for who they are outside of the relationship, while also showing up for the other person. Recognizing the importance of interdependence in my relationship has alleviated any fears that mutual reliance would stifle my autonomous sense of security. Although lesbian relationships have often become synonymous with uhauling and quickly paced life stages, lesbian relationships, and many queer relationships in general, have grown together in the fulfillment of interdependence. My relationship with my girlfriend has shown me how self-determination and dependability flourish together when they are nurtured in queer relationships. As much as I care for my needs, I care for their needs and our mutual needs, and they do the same. The love we have for each other and for ourselves is abundant. This is evident, too, in queer relationships beyond just romantic ones. For queer people around the world, interdependence isn't a choice but an act of survival deeply ingrained in our identity. It's a chance to rest your head on the shoulder of someone you love and know they will hold you, and know you will one day return the favor. Interdependence tells us we can't do it alone. Interdependence has many faces, but it becomes blindingly apparent in the consciousness of community care for other queer people. I ask myself, then, why do queer relationships have such a strong natural proximity to interdependence? If I've noticed anything, this lifestyle is noteworthy to straight people, all the while it appears intuitively and rhythmically in my relationship. What I've learned is that to be queer (socially, politically, romantically) is to nurture the collective. It's both innate and actively conscious to care for yourself, your partner, and your community. Yes, in part, there is a sense of obligation, but along with it comes a sense of purpose and triumph. I don't just see interdependence in the mutual reliability of my relationship with my girlfriend; I also see it in the way we support each other. I see it around me everywhere; in other queer relationships, with my sister, with my best friend. I hear it in the thud of my dresser as my best friend and I help each other move into a new Brooklyn apartment on an early fall night. And I smell it in the cup of tea I pour for my girlfriend after she's had a long day. We do the work because we want to, and we want to because we care. We show up for each other because our love is an endless resource. Interdependence creates systems of care and security in the face of hardship and isolation. However, beyond just necessity, interdependence is an entry point to true partnership and intimacy. It's an undiluted act of vulnerability to put trust in someone else, to know they see you, and to trust that they will be there. Reciprocity brings true joy and fulfillment to the queer community, which is something we need now more than ever, as we are stronger and more resilient article originally appeared on Pride: What my lesbian relationship taught me about interdependence
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bipartisan support helps foundations avoid tax increase in new Trump legislation
Two Republican senators and a broad bipartisan coalition of funders and nonprofits prevented a 600% increase in taxes levied on the endowments of the largest private foundations as part of President Donald Trump's the tax and spending legislation. Thanks to their support, when Trump signed the bill into law on July 4, taxes went up on the endowments of the largest universities, but not on the endowments of philanthropic foundations. 'I do have to say that this took some persuasion,' said Sen. Todd Young of Indiana in an interview with The Associated Press. The other champion was Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, who did not respond to an interview request. Together, they advocated to remove the provision which, at the high end, would levy a tax of 10% on the investment earnings of foundations with more than $5 billion in assets, up from the current rate of 1.39%. The move reveals both the power of philanthropic groups, especially conservative ones, to sway legislators and a split in the administration's coalition between those who want to protect the independence of private philanthropy and those who think the sector supports resistance to the president's agenda. Backing of Republican senators and conservative groups was key Young said he spoke with leaders or representatives of a dozen foundations in his state to understand what it would mean to increase these taxes on foundation endowments. Though Young didn't name any specific leaders, Indiana is home to numerous major foundations — including one of America's largest foundations, the Lilly Endowment, which holds shares in the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and reported assets of almost $80 billion at the end of last year. The Associated Press receives funding from the Lilly Endowment for its coverage of philanthropy and religion. Young said many in the Republican caucus appreciate the value of the investments private foundations make in their communities. 'Let's be honest here. The target of this excise tax increase was not the vast majority of private foundations. It was a handful of large foundations that are nationally known that have been accused of embracing and perpetuating certain woke policies and agendas,' Young said. While he didn't specify the specific foundations, Young was tapping into a critique of large progressive foundations brought by politicians like Vice President JD Vance. In a 2021 speech at the conservative think tank The Claremont Institute, Vance attacked foundations who fund movements for social justice and characterized their support for Black Lives Matter groups as 'investing in racial division.' 'We should eliminate all of the special privileges that exist for our nonprofit foundation class,' Vance said at the time. 'If you're spending all your money to teach racism to our children in their schools, why do we give you special tax breaks instead of taxing you more?' The White House has generally expressed support for that policy view. In an early executive order, Trump asked the attorney general to identify large foundations to investigate for civil rights violations, along with large corporations and universities. So far, the administration has not announced any investigations into foundations, even as the deadline included in the executive order has passed. Conservative philanthropic groups added their voice to oppose the proposed increase in taxes on foundations' endowment earnings. The Philanthropy Roundtable, which said it supports conservative and free market ideas, led a coalition to send a letter to Senate majority leader Sen. John Thune of Montana and Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho, who leads the Senate Finance Committee. 'We know policies that siphon private dollars away from charities to line the government's coffers are antithetical to conservative values,' the signatories wrote of the proposed tax on foundation assets. Other provisions include a charitable deduction but also new limits on company giving The legislation also contains a mix of provisions that impact funders, nonprofits and communities. It allows the vast majority of tax filers to take a charitable deduction of up to $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for married couples, which advocates believe will increase the amount everyday donors give. The law also moved forward with a new cap on itemized deductions for the wealthiest tax filers, which advocates think will deter charitable giving. It also creates a new requirement for corporations to donate a minimum of 1% of their taxable income before receiving a tax benefit. Many corporations do not meet that threshold, meaning they may be discouraged from giving at all. United Philanthropy Forum is a membership organization for foundations, which has long advocated around issues important to the sector. Besides the recent spending bill, they've followed executive orders, provisions that would have threatened the tax-exempt status of organizations and cuts to social safety net programs. Matthew L. Evans, the forum's vice president of advocacy and external relations, said the forum shifted their strategy several years ago away from defending the interests of the sector to advocating for the communities which private philanthropy serves. 'It really is an all hands on deck moment because again this is such an unprecedented time for us,' Evans said. The forum was part of a coalition of nonprofit associations that helped organize a letter pushing back on multiple provisions in the spending bill, which almost 3,000 nonprofits signed on to support. But one of the most important messages nonprofit advocates were delivering to lawmakers was around the impacts of cuts to social safety net programs, said Kyle Caldwell, who leads the Council of Michigan Foundations. He said his organization has advocated for foundations and the communities they serve in Michigan for decades. 'If you think about all of the systems that were in place: access to health care, access to education, access to food. All of those really were targeted services to the most vulnerable in our community. That's where philanthropy invests most. That's where nonprofits act most," he said, adding that the cuts will "put higher demands on the nonprofit sector, which was already overburdened.' When asked about concerns over the impact of the cuts, Senator Young from Indiana said he thinks the bill strikes the right balance. 'What we have found is that when the economy grows, people give more because they to have more to give,' Young said. ___ Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP's philanthropy coverage, visit Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kenvue's Q2 2025 Earnings: What to Expect
Skillman, New Jersey-based Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) operates as a global consumer health company. Valued at $41.9 billion by market cap, the company offers a consumer health portfolio in self-care, skin health & beauty, and essential health products. The world's largest pure-play consumer health company is expected to announce its fiscal second-quarter earnings for 2025 on Tuesday, Aug. 5. Ahead of the event, analysts expect KVUE to report a profit of $0.28 per share on a diluted basis, down 12.5% from $0.32 per share in the year-ago quarter. The company beat or matched the consensus estimate in each of the last four quarters. Dear Nvidia Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for July 16 How to Buy Tesla for a 13% Discount, or Achieve a 26% Annual Return Retirement Ready: 3 Dividend Stocks to Set and Forget Our exclusive Barchart Brief newsletter is your FREE midday guide to what's moving stocks, sectors, and investor sentiment - delivered right when you need the info most. Subscribe today! For the full year, analysts expect KVUE to report EPS of $1.12, down 1.8% from $1.14 in fiscal 2024. However, its EPS is expected to rise 8.9% year over year to $1.22 in fiscal 2026. KVUE stock has outperformed the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 10.9% gains over the past 52 weeks, with shares up 18.1% during this period. Similarly, it outperformed the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLP) 4% gains over the same time frame. On May 8, KVUE shares closed up more than 4% after reporting its Q1 results. Its adjusted EPS of $0.24 topped Wall Street expectations of $0.22. The company's revenue was $3.74 billion, topping Wall Street forecasts of $3.68 billion. Analysts' consensus opinion on KVUE stock is reasonably bullish, with a 'Moderate Buy' rating overall. Out of 15 analysts covering the stock, five advise a 'Strong Buy' rating, and 10 give a 'Hold.' KVUE's average analyst price target is $24.50, indicating a potential upside of 14.5% from the current levels. On the date of publication, Neha Panjwani did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
