EXCLUSIVE Warning over hair loss cream used by millions after doctors discover freaky side effect
Doctors have issued a warning about hair growth treatment minoxidil after a woman grew a beard.
The 28-year-old reported using hair growth spray minoxidil to treat her hair loss caused by alopecia, suffered by 7million Americans that causes hair loss.
Patients apply the medication, sold as a spray or foam, to the scalp and leave it in to absorb.
However, the unnamed woman wore a wig during the day and cap at night, which causes the drug to be absorbed at much higher levels in her blood.
It then traveled elsewhere in her body, causing uncontrollable hair growth in her face, arms and legs.
Doctors say the 40million Americans who take the drug should be aware of the risks of wearing tight caps while taking it.
Minoxidil, sold in the US under brand name Rogaine, is applied to the scalp to stimulate hair growth. It costs around $60 for a six-month supply.
Doctors writing in as medical journal said: 'Exceeding this dose does not improve efficacy but significantly increases the risk of systemic absorption and adverse effects.'
The FDA approved safe dose of the spray, which the woman used, is one milliter twice per day, or six sprays.
While side effects are usually minor, such as scalp irritation or changes in hair texture or color, the drug has been linked to excess hair growth and loss.
The woman in the case report was diagnosed with androgenetic alopecia, a form of hair loss caused by genetic predisposition or an imbalance of hormones like estrogen and androgens.
Prior to treatment, the woman, from France, had a large bald spot on the top of her head.
She had mild anemia and vitamin D, both of which can deprive hair follicles of oxygen and cause hair loss, but had no other health issues.
Along with vitamin D and zinc supplements, she used five percent minoxidil spray twice a day for two months.
She also had done three monthly sessions of LED therapy and plasma-rich plasma injections (PRP), which are meant to separate plasma from the blood and inject it back into the scalp.
Plasma is rich in platelets, which have growth factors.
After two months of minoxidil treatment, she returned to doctors with increased hair growth on her face, arms and legs.
Doctors found wearing a wig during the day and a tight cap at night after applying minoxidil left the woman's scalp 'constantly occluded, day and night.'
This means her scalp was constricted and hair follicles became blocked, leading the body to absorb higher amounts of minoxidil than if her hair follicles were still open.
The doctors believe this lead to 'systemic absorption' of the drug and effectively a higher than safe dose.
The experts wrote: 'Minoxidil is an effective treatment but can occasionally lead to hypertrichosis, especially when applied in high concentrations or over large areas of the body.
'This case illustrates the critical need for precise patient instruction on the correct application of topical therapies to prevent adverse systemic effects such as hypertrichosis.'
The woman had laser hair removal on her face and stopped taking minoxidil. She continued with her other treatments.
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