A HAIR-LOSS drug could cause babies to develop ‘werewolf syndrome’ with thick hair covering their faces and bodies, health chiefs have warned.
Since 2023 almost a dozen cases of the bizarre syndrome have been reported in Europe.
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Boffins now say the unusual hair growth in newborns is likely linked to minoxidil, a popular over-the-counter hair-loss treatment.
‘Werewolf syndrome’, or hypertrichosis, causes long, fine hair to sprout from the face, arms, and other parts of the body.
It’s rare, but when it happens, the hair can only be managed with shaving or waxing.
In April 2023, a baby boy began growing hair on his back, legs, and thighs over two months, triggering alarm among health experts.
This unusual case was reported by the Pharmacovigilance Centre of Navarra in northern Spain.
It turns out that the baby’s hair growth was linked to his dad using minoxidil, the hair loss treatment, while off work looking after him.
The dad had been applying the lotion to his scalp, and once the baby stopped being exposed to it, the hair growth on his back, legs, and thighs started to fade.
Minoxidil, which you can buy over the counter as Regaine in the UK, encourages hair growth by increasing blood flow to the hair follicles.
After this case in Spain, the Centre found 10 more similar reports of “werewolf syndrome” in babies across Europe, all linked to minoxidil use.
Thankfully, the symptoms improved once parents stopped using the drug.
However, the health body also warned that very young babies could face risks to their heart and kidneys if exposed to it.
The centre reported that the babies likely came into contact with minoxidil through skin or mouth contact with treated areas on their parents’ head
This follows a strange incident in 2019, where at least 17 children in Spain, including some babies, developed “werewolf syndrome” after minoxidil was accidentally put into bottles of omeprazole, a medication for acid reflux.
The mistake occurred at a lab, where the hair-loss drug was placed in a container labelled as omeprazole, and then distributed to pharmacies.
As a result, the centre has now enforced new regulations.
Minoxidil sold in Europe will soon include warnings on the label.
This will advise users to keep young children away from areas where the medication is applied to prevent accidental exposure and the risk of hypertrichosis.
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Safe hair loss treatments
Most hair loss does not need treatment and is either temporary and it’ll grow back or a normal part of getting older/
Hair loss caused by a medical condition usually stops or grows back once you’ve recovered.
There are things you can try if your hair loss is causing you distress. But not all treatments are available on the NHS, so you may have to pay.
No treatment is 100 per cent effective.
Finasteride and minoxidil are the main treatments for male pattern baldness.
Minoxidil can also be used to treat female pattern baldness. Women should not use finasteride.
Both items should be kept out of reach of children.
Some wigs are available on the NHS, but you may have to pay unless you qualify for financial help.
Other possible treatments for hair loss include:
- Steroid injections
- Steroid creams
- Immunotherapy
- Immunotherapy tablets
- Micropigmentation (permanent make-up)
- Light treatment
- Hair transplant
- Scalp reduction surgery
- Artificial hair transplant
Some of these treatments may not be available on the NHS.
