TLDR Fluconazole can cause hair loss, but the exact cause is unknown.
In the 2019 study, 12 male Wistar rats were used to investigate fluconazole-induced alopecia, showing a significant increase in the number of hairs in the telogen phase, indicative of telogen effluvium, but no significant changes in retinoic acid levels or retinoid responsive gene expression. In the human cohort, 5 patients with chronic coccidioidomycosis treated with fluconazole experienced alopecia, which abated for most after switching to an alternative triazole, except for one whose alopecia persisted. The study concluded that fluconazole can induce telogen effluvium, but the mechanism is not related to retinoic acid metabolism. The exact molecular mechanisms remain unknown.
36 citations,
December 2016 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” The normal range for the hair pull test is 2 hairs or fewer, and washing or brushing hair before the test does not affect the results.
50 citations,
September 2011 in “Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids” Maintaining the right amount of retinoic acid is crucial for healthy hair and skin.
92 citations,
June 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” All-trans retinoic acid causes hair loss by increasing TGF-β2 in hair follicle cells.
4 citations,
July 1996 in “Annals of Internal Medicine” High doses of fluconazole can cause reversible hair loss.
2 citations,
July 1996 in “Annals of Internal Medicine” Taking fluconazole for fungal infections might cause hair loss after about 3 months.
63 citations,
September 1995 in “Annals of internal medicine” Fluconazole can cause temporary hair loss, which stops after reducing or stopping the drug.
85 citations,
April 2007 in “Dermatologic Clinics” Some drugs can cause hair loss, change hair color and shape, or increase hair growth, and treatment may involve stopping the drug or using specific hair growth treatments.
4 citations,
July 1996 in “Annals of Internal Medicine” High doses of fluconazole can cause reversible hair loss.
July 1996 in “Annals of Internal Medicine” Taking high doses of fluconazole for a long time can cause reversible hair loss.
July 1996 in “Annals of Internal Medicine” Long-term high-dose fluconazole can cause reversible hair loss.
13 citations,
July 1996 in “Annals of Internal Medicine” International medical graduates outperformed U.S. graduates on an internal medicine exam.
