Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026

The Goeckerman Regimen for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis
Published on: July 11, 2013
Acitretin-induced poliosis with concurrent alopecia
Jeaneen A Chappell1, Melinda B Chu, Katherine Martin
1Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA. jchappe1@slu.edu
Abstract:
Acitretin, a metabolite of the aromatic retinoid etretinate, has been utilized successfully in the treatment of psoriasis since the late 1980s. Of the oral retinoids available, etretinate and acitretin are the most likely agents to induce various dose-dependent hair changes, but to our knowledge this is the first reported case of acitretin-induced poliosis. Additional cutaneous findings included skin atrophy and stickiness. Here we report a case of full body acitretin-induced poliosis with concurrent alopecia in a patient with psoriasis. A proposed mechanism for the poliosis is also presented here. Closer examination of retinoid-induced hair changes is needed in order to help physicians better counsel their patients regarding the adverse effects of acitretin and to expand the current knowledge on hair follicle biology.
Related Concept Videos
Acne Infection
Skin Diseases and Disorders
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Glucocorticoids
Drug Toxicity: Allergic Reactions
Phase II Reactions: Acetylation Reactions
The substrates for acetylation are typically drugs or their metabolites with an amino, sulfonamide, or hydrazine functional group. Acetylation can occur at several points in the drug molecule, including primary, secondary, and...
Graves' Disease I: Introduction
