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

Abstract

Introduction: Employed in the treatment of malignancies and non-neoplastic conditions, hydroxyurea is associated with integumentary adverse effects, including skin discoloration, xerosis, pruritus, cutaneous atrophy, chronic leg ulcers, oral ulcerations, alopecia, and some nail abnormalities.

Case report: A 77-year-old woman was diagnosed with essential thrombocytosis and started on low dose hydroxyurea. After 20 weeks of treatment, she experienced an unexpected change in hair color from gray to dark brown, without using hair dye or supplements. She later developed bilateral dorsal hand melanoderma, melanonychia, and onychodystrophy.

Management and outcome: It was decided to monitor the patient with no action taken as she was happy with this side effect of hydroxyurea. The platelet count has remained in excellent control. The dark brown hair color persisted over time.

Discussion/conclusion: Hair hyperpigmentation likely occurred through melanocyte activation via hydroxyurea. Severe side effects may require dosage adjustments, while milder effects can be monitored closely. The newly observed hair color restoration in this case highlights potential dual (therapeutic and aesthetic) applications of this class of agents.