Contact Alopecia: Improvement of Alopecia with Discontinuation of Fluocinolone Oil in Individuals Allergic to Balsam Fragrance

The document described three pediatric cases, aged 3 to 14 years, with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) who showed improvement in alopecia after they stopped using fluocinolone oil, which contained an allergen, balsam of pine, to which they were allergic. Patch testing confirmed their allergy to balsam of Peru and other balsam derivatives. Upon following an avoidance protocol, which included a low-balsam diet, all patients exhibited significant hair regrowth within 16 weeks. The findings highlight the role of contact allergy in exacerbating alopecia in children with AD and suggest that avoiding allergens may prevent further hair loss. The authors recommend larger studies to explore the link between allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and alopecia.