Pattern Alopecia During Hormonal Anticancer Therapy in Patients with Breast Cancer
January 2014
in “
Annals of Dermatology
”
pattern alopecia hormonal anticancer therapy antiestrogenic agents male pattern hair loss female pattern hair loss androgen-estrogen imbalance topical treatments chemotherapy-induced hair loss pattern baldness hormonal therapy antiestrogen drugs male pattern baldness female pattern baldness hormone imbalance topical hair loss treatments chemotherapy hair loss
TLDR Some breast cancer patients on hormonal therapy may develop male or female pattern hair loss, which can sometimes be improved with topical treatments.
The document described five cases of female breast cancer patients who developed pattern alopecia while on hormonal anticancer therapy with antiestrogenic agents. The patients had previously experienced global hair loss due to cytotoxic chemotherapy but developed pattern alopecia after recovery. Three patients showed male pattern hair loss, and two showed female pattern hair loss. The study suggested that the androgen-estrogen imbalance from the antiestrogenic drugs might cause pattern alopecia. Pattern alopecia during hormonal therapy is not as well recognized as chemotherapy-induced hair loss. Topical treatments improved hair loss in three out of the five patients, indicating a need for awareness and treatment strategies for hair loss in patients on long-term antiestrogen therapy.
