‘Werewolf syndrome’ babies linked to hair loss « Euro Weekly News
Babies developing excessive hair growth on face and body – ‘werewolf syndrome’ – linked to hair loss meds
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Calling all those who use hair-loss medication – especially parents or future parents. Watch out! New studies have revealed that cases of excessive hair growth in babies across Europe have been linked to parents’ use of minoxidil, a common hair loss treatment.
In total, there have been 11 cases so far of “werewolf syndrome” identified in babies across Europe and all had the same thing in common: their parents had been using hair loss medication, which had clearly left their babies exposed to excessive hair growth.
Babies with ‘werewolf syndrome’ due to hair loss medication
Hypertrichosis, commonly referred to as “werewolf syndrome,” is not a common condition and is characterised by abnormal hair growth on other parts of the body, not just the scalp. It may indeed cover the entire face or body or may appear in more localised patches of hair according to the US National Institute of Health (NIH).
The intriguing report was carried out by the Pharmacovigilance Centre of Navarre (CFN) in Spain and it discovered that several babies affected by the condition had a parent who was using minoxidil to treat baldness. Minoxidil is a medication aimed to target baldness or balding. It promises to promote hair growth and slow down the process of hair loss and can be taken as oral medication or as a topical solution applied directly to the scalp.
Transfer of minoxidil to baby’s thin skin can cause ‘werewolf syndrome’
Alarm bells first started to sound, when the CFN investigated a baby who had excessive hair growing on its back, legs and thighs, which over a two-month period had continue to develop. The father of the baby had been using a 5 per cent minoxidil solution topically to treat his baldness. This prompted further studies in other babies born with the same traits and which revealed similar parallels between ‘werewolf syndrone’ and minoxidil. The transmission of the treatment to the baby, according to the CFN may have been oral or through direct skin contact. Babies have thinner and more sensitive skin, which means that topical medications or more readily absorbed.
Due to these findings, the European Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) now applies warnings to the minoxidil, advising of potential risks to infants.
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