Biological Effects of the Atomic Bomb (Level 3)

Level 3: Hair Loss in Victims of Atomic Bomb Blast

Hair loss is mainly caused by gamma and x-rays, which are released upon the explosion of the atomic bomb. Upon penetrating a person, these rays can penetrate more than 10,000 cells and cause radiation damage, resulting in cell deaths and the inhibition of cell division. 

The radiation from gamma and x-rays cause the most damage to cells which are actively proliferating. Hair is made up of layers of dead cells stacked on top of each other. Hair follicle cells in the anagen phase constantly divide to produce new cells, which eventually die and stack up on top of each other for hair growth. Hence, impacts on the inhibition of cell division are the most serious to these actively-proliferating hair follicle cells as it significantly decreases hair growth. 

Furthermore, as more cells start to die from radiation, more hair follicles are embedded in the dead cells. This makes it difficult for hair roots to properly anchor into the skin, so hair will not be attached firmly to the skin and can be pulled out easily, increasing the rate of hair loss. 

Q: Are the above reasons why Radiation Therapy for Cancer causes Hair Loss in patients?

Ans: Not necessarily. For example, if radiation treatment is to your head, it can cause alopecia: an autoimmune diseases in which the patient's immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicle cells
(Sources: cancer.org and WebMD)