Salicylate Ingestion And Idiopathic Hair Loss

The study investigated idiopathic hair loss and found an unexpected blue fluorescence in the urine, identified as o-hydroxyhippuric acid, a metabolite of salicylate. This blue spot disappeared when salicylates were avoided and reappeared with clinical doses in controls. The findings suggested that "aspirin addiction" might indicate underlying chronic disease, cause gastrointestinal bleeding leading to anemia and hair loss, or directly interfere with cellular activity necessary for hair production.