Drug-Induced Skin, Nail, and Hair Disorders

The document from 2007 reviews the significant health issue of drug-induced skin, nail, and hair disorders, affecting approximately 3% of hospitalized patients. It categorizes these reactions into acute and chronic types, with acute reactions including erythematous drug eruptions, urticaria, angioedema, photosensitivity, vasculitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and toxic epidermal necrolysis, and chronic reactions presenting as dermatological diseases like pigmentary changes, autoimmune diseases, and acneiform eruptions. The review also discusses hair and nail disorders, such as hair loss, changes in hair color or structure, and various nail changes. It emphasizes the importance of clinical recognition, understanding the pathophysiology, and treatment of these adverse reactions, and the necessity for healthcare professionals to report these incidents. Drug-induced alopecia is highlighted as difficult to diagnose, with improvement upon drug discontinuation being a key indicator. The document also stresses the need for precise documentation and reporting of drug eruptions to pharmacovigilance surveillance centers to avoid bias in risk evaluation.