TLDR A man's bald spot grew hair after starting cancer treatment with gefitinib.
In 2005, a 57-year-old man with androgenic alopecia and non-small-cell lung cancer experienced unexpected hair growth on a bald area of his scalp after starting treatment with gefitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in July 2004. By August 2004, the new hair, which differed in color and texture from his normal hair, was noticeable. As of May 2005, he continued the treatment and was satisfied with the change. This case was significant as it was the first report of gefitinib, typically associated with skin rashes, promoting hair growth, potentially due to its impact on epidermal growth factor receptors involved in skin and hair development.
193 citations
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June 1990 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”
1 citations
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March 2019 in “Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas” New cancer treatments are less harmful to hair but can still cause hair loss, color, shape, and growth changes.
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April 2012 in “Seminars in Oncology” Targeted cancer therapies often cause skin problems that need careful management to improve patient quality of life and treatment success.
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October 2011 in “Clinics in Dermatology” New chemotherapy drugs cause skin side effects, but treatments like minocycline and tetracycline can help reduce them.
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August 2010 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology” Cetuximab can cause eyelash growth, which is rare but manageable.
