Curling of Hair in Two Female Patients Taking Alitretinoin

The document reported on two female patients, aged 45 and 51, who developed hair curling while being treated with alitretinoin for severe chronic hand eczema. The 51-year-old experienced hair curling after 9 months of treatment, and her hair remained curly even 2 years later despite a dose reduction. The 45-year-old developed curly hair and diffuse alopecia after 5 months, and her hair remained curly 9 months after the onset, even after a dose reduction. The Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb suggested a likely causal relationship between alitretinoin and hair curling, indicating that the effect might be irreversible. Prescribers should be aware of this potential side effect. The document also referenced previous reports of similar hair changes with other synthetic retinoids and suggested that these changes might be due to the direct effect of the medication on hair follicle function, with a possible involvement of thyroid hormones.