Cold Caps and Scalp Cooling

Here at Studio 571 Hair Artisans, we understand the devastation that can come with hair loss, especially when it is chemo induced. To combat this, we are spreading awareness about hair preserving options that are available to those dealing with Chemo treatment. Scalp cooling, first tested in the late 1970s, has come a long way and now can provide normalcy, control, and help individuals struggling with cancer to keep their confidence!  

What are Cold Caps and Scalp Cooling?  

This device is used to resist hair loss when going through chemotherapy. They can be either manual or automated, but both ultimately share the same goal of preventing hair fall. The caps are able to do this through the use of temperature. The cold restricts blood flow, which reduces the amount of chemo that reaches your hair follicle cells. In doing this, some have seen results of less hair loss.  

What is the difference between Manual and Automatic Cold Caps?  

Manual: This device is cooled by a freezer, or dry ice. This type of cap must be much colder than an automated one, and the temperature does not remain cold as it is worn. It must be switched every 30 minutes while in use. This product is not regulated by the FDA; because of this, manual options tend to be less expensive but are not typically covered by insurance.  

Automatic: These caps are connected to an automated device that is cooled to a specific temperature and circulates a gel/liquid. It's important to note that automated caps have only been approved for chemo-induced hair-loss related to solid tumor cancers, not blood cancers.  

• Scalp cooling is not used to prevent hair loss that is caused by immunotherapy or targeted drug therapy 

  

What are the Different Types of Automated Cold Caps?  

There are currently 3 different types of cold caps systems that are FDA approved for preventing chemo-induced hair loss.  

• DigniCap - https://dignicap.com/scalp-cooling/  

• Paxman - https://coldcap.com/  

• Amma - https://www.coolerheads.com/  

• Please refer to your Oncologist when discussing if a Cold Cap may be right for you.  

What to Look Out for when Considering Scalp Cooling

Cold Caps are NOT recommended for those who: 

• Have a central nervous system cancer 

• Are getting chemo to prepare for a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant 

• Had, or will have, radiation therapy to the skull 

• Have leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma. (These cancers travel through the blood and lymph system, so we don’t want to reduce the amount of chemo going to the head and scalp because of the possibility of cancer cells in these areas.) 

• Have a cold-agglutinin disease, cryoglobulinemia, or post-traumatic cold dystrophy (due to the risk of toxicity)  

General Side Effects from Cold Caps  

• Headaches 

• Nausea 

• Dry skin 

• Claustrophobia 

• General discomfort related to feeling cold  

These side effects tend to be pretty mild. There are very few reports about scalp thermal injury.  

Insurance Coverage  

Starting January 1, 2026, Medicare will provide coverage for mechanical scalp cooling in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). This will provide reimbursement for the initial fitting of the scalp cooling cap and patient education, pre-infusion cooling, and post-infusion cooling (in 30-minute increments). This applies to automated scalp cooling systems, which are FDA-approved. Some private insurance companies already cover or reimburse for these systems, and more are expected to add their own coverage policies in the future.  

Sources and References:

American Cancer Society — Cold Caps and Scalp Cooling Cold Caps and Scalp Cooling. American Cancer Society, 28 July 2025, https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/side-effects/hair-skin-nails/hair-loss/cold-caps.html. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026. American Cancer Society

ColdCap (Scalp Cooling Information)Welcome to the Home of Scalp Cooling. ColdCap, https://coldcap.com/. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026. Coldcap

Cooler Heads (Amma™ Scalp Cooling System)Cooler Heads | Portable FDA-Cleared Scalp Cooling System. Cooler Heads Care, https://www.coolerheads.com/. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026

Penguin Cold Caps (U.S.)Penguin Cold Caps. Penguin Cold Caps, https://penguincoldcaps.com/us/. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026. Penguin Cold Caps