Study: Cooling cap may prevent hair loss in cancer patients

Hair loss is a major concern for women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Now, there's more evidence that a special cap may help prevent that.

A new study of 500 women with early-stage breast cancer shows that the cooling cap reduced hair loss by 50 percent.

The cooling cap is worn just before, during, and after chemo.

It cools the scalp to 36-degrees, constricting blood vessels there and researchers believe that's the key to preventing hair loss.

"That leads to decrease blood flow to the hair follicles and potentially that will cause less chemotherapy into the hair follicle area and prevent hair loss," Dr. Jame Abraham of the Cleveland Clinic said.

Study leaders say the cap seems to work better with some chemo regimens.

The cap hasn't won FDA approval yet.