Scalp cooling works by reducing the temperature of the scalp for a period of time before, during and after chemotherapy treatment. The cooling process triggers a series of biological functions which work together to reduce the damage that chemotherapy drugs cause to the hair follicles. One of the key mechanisms is vasoconstriction - cooling, causes blood vessels in the scalp to constrict, reducing blood flow to hair follicles. Blood flow reduces to 20% to 40% of the normal rate which in turn reduces the amount of chemotherapy entering the hair follicle cells.
For more information on the biological functions that occur as a result of scalp cooling click here
