Acitretin-induced alopecia areata: a case report

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Alopecia areata is a common non-scarring hair loss disorder.
• Previous reports link alopecia areata development to systemic anti-psoriatic therapies like TNF inhibitors.
• No prior literature has documented retinoid-induced alopecia areata affecting eyebrows and eyelashes.

Observation:

• A female patient undergoing treatment for psoriasis with acitretin developed alopecia areata.
• The hair loss specifically affected the eyebrow and eyelash regions.
• The onset of alopecia areata occurred approximately one month after starting acitretin therapy.

Findings:

• This case presents the first reported instance of acitretin-induced alopecia areata affecting the eyebrow and eyelash.
• The findings suggest a potential adverse effect of acitretin on hair follicles, specifically in these localized areas.
• The temporal relationship indicates acitretin as a likely trigger for the observed alopecia areata.

Implications:

• Clinicians should be aware of the potential for acitretin to induce localized alopecia areata, particularly of the eyebrow and eyelash.
• This observation expands the known side effect profile of retinoid therapy in psoriasis patients.
• Further research may be warranted to elucidate the mechanism of retinoid-induced alopecia areata and identify risk factors.