EGFR Protects the Upper Hair Follicle from Staphylococcus-Driven Folliculitis

Targeted cancer therapy against EGFR can cause significant dermatologic side effects, including papulopustular eruptions and folliculitis, affecting up to 90% of patients and severely impacting their quality of life. A third of these patients develop folliculitis driven by Staphylococcus aureus, posing a serious health risk, especially for those who are immunocompromised. The study highlights the importance of EGFR in maintaining skin barrier function during hair shaft eruption, with its loss facilitating bacterial invasion and inflammation. Using advanced sequencing techniques and novel genetic mouse models, researchers identified the hair canal as a critical site for antimicrobial defense, which could help mitigate adverse effects during anti-cancer therapy and enhance understanding of hair follicle defense mechanisms.