During the “Navarra Pharmacovigilance Information Bulletin”, the detection of up to 11 cases of infants with hypertrichosis, known as werewolf syndrome. In each of them, the parents took lotions with minoxidilA baldness medication which is sold without a prescription in pharmacies.
In April 2023, the first case was known when A baby would have hair growing uncontrollably all over his body. It was decided to investigate the possible reasons and they found out that his father used 5% minoxidil topically to fight against baldness. The father was on paternity leave and spent a lot of time with the little boy. When he stopped using drugs, her son’s symptoms disappeared.
This case led us to examine the databases of the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System (FEDRA) and it was found that there were six more babies up to nine months with the werewolf syndrome of which parents they took minoxidil.
By expanding research at European level three more cases were found and after further investigation another was discovered, bringing a total of 11.
THE hypertrichosis has as a symptom a excessive hair growth (thickness and quantity) in areas where it does not usually grow. At breastfed babies They had hair on their backs, legs and thighs. Other difficulties that may arise from Werewolf syndrome are heart and liver problems.
Fortunately, none of the affected had consequences and hair that had appeared in these areas have disappeared. The Navarre Pharmacological Center suspects that minoxidil used topically can be transferred by contact with babies through their most vulnerable skin.
All this led the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to modify the Minoxidil leaflet on its side effects: “Hypertrichosis in children after accidental topical exposure to minoxidil.”
