This case report presents a 23-year-old female patient who developed eyebrow and follicular damage following the use of cosmetic products. The patient experienced gradual eyebrow thinning and hair loss after applying eyebrow powder. Physical examination was unremarkable, while dermoscopy revealed hair breakage, follicular damage, and the presence of the black dot sign. Reflectance confocal microscopy showed infiltration of inflammatory cells. Patch testing was strongly positive. After excluding other systemic conditions, a diagnosis of cosmetic-induced follicular damage was established based on the clinical findings and test results. Discontinuation of the cosmetic product led to eyebrow regrowth. This case underscores the potential risks of cosmetic ingredients to hair health and highlights the utility of non-invasive diagnostic techniques for clinical evaluation.
Luo G, Wu Z, Xie Z, 2025, Determining the Cosmetics Usage Patterns of Consumers for Exposure Assessment in China. Food Chem Toxicol, 197: 115273.
Kumari S, Atem T, Chaudhary V, et al., 2024, Prevalence and Risk Factors of Cosmetic-Induced Adverse Events: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Appl Pharm Sci, 14(11): 252–263.
Raj C, Behera D, Behera D, et al., 2025, Dermoscopic Analysis of Patients with and without Poor Prognostic Indicators in Alopecia Areata—A Comparative Study. Indian Dermatol Online, 17(1): 57–62.
Kaczorowska A, Rudnicka L, Stefanato CM, et al., 2021, Diagnostic Accuracy of Trichoscopy in Trichotillomania: A Systematic Review. Acta Derm Venereol, 101(10): adv00565.
Altaf A, Omer N, Malik T, et al., 2024, Trichoscopy as a Useful Tool to Diagnose Telogen Effluvium. Ann Pak Inst Med Sci, 20(4): 784–788.
Kesharwani S, Gupta K, Meena S, et al., 2025, Evaluation of Dermatoscopic (Trichoscopic) Patterns in Hair and Scalp Disorders: A Clinical Observational Study. Clin Dermatol Rev, 9(2): 120–127.
Starace M, Mandel VD, Ardigo M, et al., 2025, Defining Predictive Factors for Permanent Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia: Trichoscopy, Reflectance Confocal Microscopy and Histopathology Study on 77 Patients. Dermatol Ther, 15(4): 869–887.