TLDR Acitretin improved monilethrix symptoms temporarily, but they returned after stopping treatment.
A case study from 2005 reported on a 7-year-old girl with monilethrix, a rare genetic hair disorder, treated with oral acitretin. The treatment resulted in a very good clinical and cosmetic improvement while it was ongoing, but symptoms recurred after stopping the medication. Monilethrix is characterized by hair shaft anomalies, such as fusiform nodes and narrow segments, leading to hair that breaks easily and thins out. The condition is often inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern and is linked to mutations in genes coding for hair keratins. Despite the temporary success with acitretin, no known treatment was able to cure the condition permanently.
26 citations
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May 1991 in “Clinical and experimental dermatology” Oral etretinate improved hair length and reduced beading in monilethrix.
24 citations
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July 1983 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” Tigason improved hair growth in a boy with monilethrix without side effects.
September 2023 in “Cutis” A baby girl has a hair disorder called monilethrix, causing fragile hair that may improve over time.
November 2019 in “Harper's Textbook of Pediatric Dermatology” Understanding normal hair growth and loss in children is key to diagnosing and treating hair disorders.
3 citations
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January 2016 in “Journal of cosmetology & trichology” Taking vitamins, minerals, and amino acids can improve hair strength and quality in people with Monilethrix.
26 citations
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July 2019 in “Dermatology and Therapy” The conclusion is that genetic testing is important for diagnosing and treating various genetic hair disorders.
6 citations
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January 2008 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology” Monilethrix, a genetic hair disorder causing fragile hair, affects three generations in a family.