JOURNAL ARTICLE

Nearly complete hair re-pigmentation in an older patient treated with hydroxyurea for essential thrombocytosis.

  • Published In: Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice, 2025, v. 31, n. 3. P. 499 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Salmasi, Shiva; Hassan, Ruba Alchaikh; Gafarzadeh, Zahra; Dasanu, Constantin A. 3 of 3

Abstract

This article focuses on a case of hair hyperpigmentation associated with hydroxyurea, a chemotherapeutic agent used to treat malignancies and non-neoplastic conditions such as essential thrombocytosis. A 77-year-old woman treated with low-dose hydroxyurea experienced an unexpected change in hair color from gray to dark brown after 20 weeks, alongside other cutaneous effects including melanoderma, melanonychia, and onychodystrophy. The hair darkening is hypothesized to result from melanocyte activation induced by hydroxyurea, a side effect not previously documented in the literature. While severe cutaneous adverse effects may necessitate dosage adjustments or discontinuation, milder manifestations like those observed can be managed with monitoring, and this case suggests potential dual therapeutic and aesthetic applications of hydroxyurea and related agents.

Additional Information

  • Source:Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice. 2025/04, Vol. 31, Issue 3, p499
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Health and Medicine
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:1078-1552
  • DOI:10.1177/10781552241285591
  • Accession Number:184442925
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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