Chemically Induced Hair Loss/Alopecia

The 2019 document highlights the recognition of hair loss (alopecia) as a potential side effect from exposure to certain chemicals and drugs. It explains hair anatomy and growth cycles, differentiates between nonchemical and chemical-induced hair loss, and emphasizes the challenges in proving the latter. The document details anagen-type hair loss, which can occur rapidly after taking drugs that inhibit follicular mitoses, such as cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin, and notes that hair typically regrows 2 months post-therapy. It also describes telogen effluvium, which manifests around 2 months after drug exposure, with a list of associated medications provided. Cases of occupational alopecia due to substances like selenium are mentioned, along with a range of drugs that may cause reversible hair loss. The difficulty of establishing a definitive link between hair loss and specific chemicals or drugs is underscored due to confounding factors.