Imiquimod-Induced Telogen Effluvium: A Case Report

    April 2010 in “ Reactions Weekly ”
    NULL AUTHOR_ID
    Image of study
    TLDR A woman's hair loss was likely caused by a cream used for skin treatment and improved after she stopped using it.
    In 2010, a case report documented a 55-year-old woman who developed alopecia after using topical imiquimod therapy for actinic keratosis on her scalp. She had applied 5% imiquimod cream for a total of 9 weeks, initially for 3 weeks on the vertex of her scalp and then for an additional 6 weeks on a larger area of the anterior scalp. Approximately 6 weeks after completing the treatment, she observed hair loss starting at the vertex and progressing to the anterior scalp. She was diagnosed with telogen effluvium after a physical examination and scalp biopsies. The alopecia gradually improved and resolved within 5 months after she stopped using imiquimod. The authors of the case report hypothesized that imiquimod was the cause of the patient's telogen effluvium due to the timing of the hair loss and lack of other explanations.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 1000+ results

    Similar Research

    5 / 1000+ results
      Phototherapy, Photomedicine, and Pigmentary Disorders

      research Phototherapy, Photomedicine, and Pigmentary Disorders

      July 2003 in “Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery”
      Stopping certain drugs can improve skin conditions, arsenicosis affects over half of a Bangladeshi village, males are more vulnerable, and certain treatments are effective for warts, acne, and psoriasis. Smoking and drinking are linked to psoriasis in men, a cream helps with a type of skin cancer, and low iron levels don't directly cause chronic hair loss in women.
      Cancer

      research Cancer

      July 2003 in “Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery”
      Some medications can improve skin conditions, while lifestyle factors like smoking and drinking may worsen them; treatments like monoclonal antibodies and imiquimod cream show promise for certain skin diseases.
      Internal Medicine: Retrospective Review of 120 Patients Over a 10-Year Period

      research Internal Medicine: Retrospective Review of 120 Patients Over a 10-Year Period

      July 2003 in “Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery”
      Certain drugs can cause skin lupus, but stopping the drug usually helps. Vaccines work against smallpox, genital herpes, and a type of human papillomavirus. More frequent light therapy clears psoriasis faster. Certain treatments work for psoriasis and dermatitis. A specific cream effectively treats a type of skin cancer. Low iron levels aren't directly linked to chronic hair loss.