Hyperpigmentation Following Treatment of Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia

November 2013 in “ Case reports in dermatology ”

Irma Margarita Pérez-Rodríguez, Martha Elena García-Meléndez, Kristian Eichelmann, Osvaldo Vázquez‐Martínez, Jorge Ocampo‐Candiani

frontal fibrosing alopecia dutasteride pimecrolimus hyperpigmentation photoprotection FFA

TLDR A woman's skin darkened after using dutasteride and pimecrolimus for hair loss, but improved when she stopped the medications and protected her skin from light.

A 57-year-old postmenopausal woman with frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) was treated with dutasteride and pimecrolimus, which initially improved her condition. However, she developed hyperpigmentation on her joints and face after 8 months. Discontinuation of the treatment and use of photoprotection led to an 80% improvement in hyperpigmentation after 5 months. This case highlighted a previously unreported side effect of hyperpigmentation associated with the combination of dutasteride and pimecrolimus, suggesting the need for further studies to evaluate this association.

View this study on karger.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Cited in this study

7 / 7 results

research Histopathological Insights Into Hair Loss in Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome: Diffuse Anagen-Telogen Conversion Precedes Clinical Hair Loss Progression

16 citations , May 2013 in “Australasian Journal of Dermatology”

Hair loss in Cronkhite-Canada syndrome is reversible by treating the gut issues and doesn't need steroid treatment for the hair itself.

research Treatment of Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia and Lichen Planopilaris: A Systematic Review

117 citations , March 2013 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

No effective treatment for frontal fibrosing alopecia was found, but oral 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors had the best response; for lichen planopilaris, topical corticosteroids were commonly used but had a high relapse rate.

research T Cell–Mediated Acute Localized Exanthematous Pustulosis Caused by Finasteride

25 citations , February 2012 in “The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology”

Finasteride caused a rare skin rash in a man, which improved after stopping the medication.

research Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: Treatment with Oral Dutasteride and Topical Pimecrolimus

69 citations , May 2009 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

Oral dutasteride and topical pimecrolimus can safely and effectively treat Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia, leading to significant hair regrowth.

research Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia Versus Lichen Planopilaris: A Clinicopathological Study

126 citations , April 2006 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

The conclusion is that FFA and LPP have similar scalp biopsy features, making them hard to distinguish histologically, and FFA may be a specific kind of scarring hair loss.

research Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia in Postmenopausal Women

179 citations , January 2005 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Some postmenopausal women with frontal fibrosing alopecia stopped losing hair with finasteride treatment, hinting at a possible hormonal cause.

research Post-Menopausal Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia

49 citations , January 2003 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology”

The document concludes that post-menopausal frontal fibrosing alopecia is a poorly understood condition that does not respond well to common treatments.