Scalp Psoriasiform Contact Dermatitis with Acute Telogen Effluvium Due to Topical Minoxidil Treatment

The document from 2014 reported two cases of psoriasiform allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and acute telogen effluvium (TE), a form of temporary hair loss, due to the use of topical minoxidil treatment for female pattern hair loss (FPHL). In the first case, a 46-year-old woman experienced worsening hair loss and the appearance of scaly dermatosis after several years of using minoxidil. Patch tests revealed that minoxidil was the sole cause of her scalp dermatitis. In the second case, a 28-year-old woman experienced acute diffuse hair loss after one year of using minoxidil. Patch tests showed that propylene glycol, a component of the minoxidil solution, was the cause of her sensitization. The study concluded that minoxidil treatment allergy could cause scalp psoriasiform ACD followed by acute TE with severe hair loss.