title: Drug-induced hair disorders.
abstract: Drugs may induce hair loss, stimulate hair growth or, more rarely, induce changes in the hair shape and colour. Drug-induced hair loss is usually completely reversible and is, in most cases, a consequence of a toxic effect of the drug on the hair follicle matrix. In rare cases alopecia may be permanent. Depending on type of drug, dosage and patient susceptibility, hair loss presents as telogen effluvium, anagen effluvium or both. Telogen effluvium is also commonly observed after discontinuation of drugs that prolong anagen, such as topical minoxidil and oral contraceptives. Although a large number of drugs have been occasionally reported to produce hair loss, only for a few drugs the relation between drug intake and hair loss has been proven.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 1, Bologna, Italy. bmpiracc@med.unibo.it
authors.forename: Bianca Maria
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Piraccini
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iorizzo
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rech
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tosti
mesh_terms: D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D006200:Hair Color / Q000187:drug effects; D006201:Hair Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006983:Hypertrichosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D011832:Radiation Injuries