Drug-induced Hypertrichosis

The pathomechanism for omeprazole-induced hypertrichosis is not known. Omeprazole significantly increases duodenal prostaglandin (PG)E2 synthesis and elevates the expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2 protein and PGE2. Prostaglandin F2 alpha analogues, such as latanoprost, can increase pigmentation, thickness, length, and number of eyelashes. Prostaglandins are involved in hair growth regulation; PGE2 and PGF2 alpha stimulate hair growth, whereas PGD2 has an inhibitory effect. It has been suggested that a balance between PGE2 and PGD2 controls hair growth in mouse and human skin, whereas drugs that stimulate hair growth may exert their effects by acting on prostaglandin pathways. It has been suggested that minoxidil increases production of PGE2, and topical cetirizine, which has been reported to be beneficial in androgenetic alopecia, decreasing inflammatory cell infiltrate and PGD2 production. Prostaglandins may have an action on hair growth regulation through their vasomotor effects in the dermis, inducing blood flow in the perifollicular vessels, and by inducing DNA replication and stimulation of cell division and growth.

There is a solution in this disease because vellus hairs are turned into real terminal hairs. Can it be identified?