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EGFR Inhibitor-Associated Acneiform Folliculitis

Assessment and Management

  • Therapy in Practice
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Abstract

Treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors is associated with cutaneous adverse events, including acneiform folliculitis, dry skin, and nail disorders. Acneiform folliculitis is a class effect of EGFR inhibitors that is thought to be a direct result of EGFR blockade in the hair follicle. The folliculitis is typically mild to moderate in severity and reversible without scarring upon treatment completion. Dose modification or treatment discontinuation is rarely necessary, except in severe cases. Standard acne treatments (e.g. benzoyl peroxide, oral or topical antibacterials, retinoic acid) may provide some benefit, based on anecdotal reports. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of superinfection with Staphylococcus aureus, in some cases involving meticillin-resistant strains, which may require treatment with oral antibacterials. Further study is needed to determine how the presence and severity of acneiform folliculitis are related to clinical outcomes, and which patients taking EGFR inhibitors are more likely to develop this disorder.

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Acknowledgments

Preparation of this manuscript was supported by a grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. The author has no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this review.

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  1. Department of Dermatology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, Texas p, Box 1452, 77030, USA

    Madeleine Duvic

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Correspondence to Madeleine Duvic.

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Duvic, M. EGFR Inhibitor-Associated Acneiform Folliculitis. Am J Clin Dermatol 9, 285–294 (2008). https://doi.org/10.2165/00128071-200809050-00002

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