Clinical Characterization and Treatment Response of Folliculitis Decalvans Lichen Planopilaris Phenotypic Spectrum: A Unicentre Retrospective Series of 31 Patients.

Folliculitis decalvans and lichen planopilaris phenotypic spectrum has been described as a form of cicatricial alopecia. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical and trichoscopic features and therapeutic management of this condition in a series of patients. A retrospective observational unicentre study was designed including patients with folliculitis decalvans and lichen planopilaris phenotypic spectrum confirmed with biopsy. A total of 31 patients (20 females) were included. The most common presentation was an isolated plaque of alopecia (61.3%) in the vertex. Trichoscopy revealed hair tufting with perifollicular white scaling in all cases. The duration of the condition was the only factor associated with large plaques (grade III) of alopecia (p = 0.026). The mean time to transition from the classic presentation of folliculitis decalvans to folliculitis decalvans and lichen planopilaris phenotypic spectrum was 5.2 years. The most frequently used treatments were topical steroids (80.6%), intralesional steroids (64.5%) and topical antibiotics (32.3%). Nine clinical relapses were detected after a mean time of 18 months (range 12-23 months). Folliculitis decalvans and lichen planopilaris phenotypic spectrum is an infrequent, but probably underdiagnosed, cicatricial alopecia. Treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs used for lichen planopilaris may be an adequate approach.

Confocal microscopy and optical coherence tomography of inflammatory skin diseases in hairs and pilosebaceous units: A systematic review.

Common skin disorders such as acne vulgaris, rosacea and folliculitis are bothersome prevalent inflammatory diseases of hair follicles that can easily be investigated bedside using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) with micrometre resolution, opening a novel era for high-resolution hair follicle diagnostics and quantitative treatment evaluation. EMBASE, PubMed and Web of Science were searched until 5 January 2023 to identify all studies imaging hair follicle characteristics by RCM and OCT for diagnosis and monitoring of treatment in hair follicle-based skin disorders. This study followed PRISMA guidelines. After inclusion of articles, methodological quality was assessed using the QUADAS-2 critical appraisal checklist. Thirty-nine in vivo studies (33 RCM and 12 OCT studies) were included. The studies focused on acne vulgaris, rosacea, alopecia areata, hidradenitis suppurativa, folliculitis, folliculitis decalvans, lichen planopilaris, discoid lupus erythemasus, frontal fibrosing alopecia and keratosis pilaris. Inter- and perifollicular morphology including number of demodex mites, hyperkeratinization, inflammation and vascular morphology could be assessed by RCM and OCT in all included skin disorders. Methodological study quality was low, and interstudy outcome variability was high. Quality assessment showed high or unclear risk of bias in 36 studies. Both RCM and OCT visualize quantitative features as size, shape, content and abnormalities of hair follicles, and have potential to support clinical diagnosis and evaluate treatment effects. However, larger studies with better methodological quality are needed to implement RCM and OCT directly into clinical practice.

Iatrogenic Demodex folliculitis: A case report.

Demodex folliculorum is a commensal mite that inhabits the orifices of cutaneous pilosebaceous follicles. Overgrowth of these organisms can lead to Demodex folliculitis, which typically presents as papules and pustules predominantly involving the temples, cheeks, and occasionally the chest. We present a 51-year-old woman with iatrogenic Demodex folliculitis secondary to immunosuppressive treatment for an autoimmune connective tissue disease. Histopathological exam of a skin biopsy, which revealed follicular Demodex mites, confirmed the diagnosis. The eruption was treated with oral ivermectin and topical metronidazole gel, and the patient's immunosuppressive regimen was decreased, resulting in marked improvement in the eruption within 6 weeks and no worsening of her underlying autoimmune disorder. This case emphasizes the importance of considering Demodex folliculitis in the differential diagnosis of a new onset rash in the context of immunosuppressive treatment.

Efficacy and Safety of Tumour Necrosis Factor-α Antagonists for Folliculitis Decalvans: A Retrospective Case-series Pilot Study.

Folliculitis decalvans is a chronic inflammatory skin disease leading to scarring alopecia. Management of this disabling disease is difficult and no treatment is currently approved. Current knowledge regarding the pathogenesis of folliculitis decalvans suggests the benefit of using anti-tumour necrosis factor-α. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of anti-tumour necrosis factor-α for management of folliculitis decalvans. A single-centre retrospective pilot study included patients with refractory folliculitis decalvans treated by tumour necrosis factor-α inhibitors. An Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) score was designed and validated to assess the efficacy of the therapy. Response to treatment was considered good to excellent when an IGA ≤ 2 was obtained at month 12. Eleven patients were included, with a mean time from diagnosis of folliculitis decalvans to the introduction of infliximab (n = 9) or adalimumab (n = 2) of 8.55 ± 1.26 years. Nine patients had failed on at least 2 lines of systemic therapies before starting anti-tumour necrosis factor-α. The median IGA score at baseline was 3. At the end of follow-up, 5 patients were considered responders. Overall, the safety profile of anti-tumour necrosis factor-α was good. The results suggest that the clinical benefit of anti-tumour necrosis factor-α is obtained after at least 6 months of treatment. However, further prospective studies are needed to confirm these results.

Eosinophilic pustule smear in the diagnosis of pediatric post-transplant eosinophilic folliculitis.

Hematologic-associated eosinophilic pustular folliculitis is a subtype of eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (EPF) which develops in patients with underlying hematological malignancies after treatment with chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant (BMT), or stem cell transplant (SCT). Few cases of hematological-associated EPF have been reported in pediatric patients. Skin biopsy is considered the gold standard for diagnosis. We describe a case in which Wright staining of a pustule smear for eosinophils provided data to rapidly support a clinical diagnosis of hematologic-associated EPF.

Common condition with uncommon cause: fungal folliculitis in immunosuppressed patient with Blau syndrome.

We present a case of a patient with a history of Blau syndrome, who presented with acute onset of widespread florid painful folliculitis rash, which was resistant to the treatment with multiple courses of antibiotics in the community. Despite of the negative skin swab and negative periodic acid-schiff (PAS)stain on the skin biopsy, clinical diagnosis was fungal folliculitis and patient responded well to the course of itraconazole.

Eosinophilic Pustular Folliculitis of Infancy: A Histologic Assessment of 43 Cases.

ABSTRACT: Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis of infancy is a sterile, inflammatory dermatosis that mainly affects children younger than 36 months. The underlying physiopathologic mechanism is unclear. Clinical diagnosis is challenging, and a skin biopsy may be necessary. The literature data are sometimes contradictory, and a histologic series of eosinophilic pustular folliculitis of infancy cases has not been previously published.

Atypical folliculitis caused by Malassezia spp. in immunosuppressed patients.

BACKGROUND: Folliculitis due to Malassezia spp. (MF), caused mainly by Malassezia furfur, is clinically characterized by an acneiform eruption expressing follicular papules and pustules, predominantly on the trunk. Diagnosis of MF requires confirmation of the presence of yeasts in the hair follicle. The treatment of choice is topical or oral with azoles. We report two cases of folliculitis due to Malassezia spp. of atypical distribution in immunosuppressed patients. CASE REPORTS: Case 1. We describe a 14-year-old male patient diagnosed with chondroid osteosarcoma who required surgical treatment and chemotherapy. He was hospitalized for fever and neutropenia, presenting a rash of papulopustular lesions on the upper and lower extremities and neck. Direct examination and biopsy were performed to conclude the diagnosis of disseminated atypical Malassezia spp. folliculitis. Case 2. We describe a 16-year-old male patient diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, treated with surgical resection and chemotherapy. During hospitalization due to fever and neutropenia, he presented with disseminated dermatosis of the head, trunk, and upper extremities, showing multiple follicular papules and pustules with erythematous base; on the trunk, there were few lesions. In the supraciliary region, he showed erythema and furfuraceous desquamation. Direct examination of a follicle showed thick-walled round yeasts compatible with MF. CONCLUSIONS: MF is a frequent entity but of low diagnostic suspicion. Immunosuppressed patients may manifest atypical clinical characteristics in non-seborrheic areas, implying diagnostic difficulty. Biopsy and direct examination are essential to corroborate the etiology in patients with immunosuppression or with a non-classical presentation.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La foliculitis por Malassezia spp., causada principalmente por Malassezia furfur, se caracteriza clínicamente por una erupción acneiforme, con pápulas y pústulas foliculares de predominio en el tronco. El diagnóstico requiere confirmar la presencia de las levaduras en el folículo piloso. El tratamiento de elección es tópico u oral con azoles. Se reportan dos casos de foliculitis por Malassezia spp. de distribución atípica en pacientes inmunosuprimidos. CASOS CLÍNICOS: Caso 1. Paciente de sexo masculino de 14 años con diagnóstico de osteosarcoma condroide que ameritó tratamiento quirúrgico y quimioterapia. Fue hospitalizado por fiebre y neutropenia, presentando una erupción con lesiones papulopustulosas en las extremidades superiores e inferiores y en el cuello. Se realizaron examen directo y biopsia para concluir el diagnóstico de foliculitis por Malassezia spp. atípica diseminada. Caso 2. Paciente de sexo masculino de 16 años con diagnóstico de sarcoma sinovial, tratado con resección quirúrgica y quimioterapia, hospitalizado por fiebre y neutropenia. Presentó dermatosis diseminada en la cabeza, el tronco y las extremidades superiores, con múltiples pápulas y pústulas foliculares con base eritematosa; en el tronco había escasas lesiones. En la región supraciliar mostró eritema y escama furfurácea. Se realizó examen directo de un folículo, que reportó levaduras redondas de pared gruesa, compatibles con foliculitis por Malassezia spp. CONCLUSIONES: La foliculitis por Malassezia spp. es una afección frecuente, pero de poca sospecha diagnóstica. En pacientes inmunosuprimidos puede manifestarse con una clínica atípica en áreas no seborreicas, lo que implica la dificultad del diagnóstico. La biopsia y el examen directo son fundamentales para corroborar la etiología en pacientes con inmunosupresión o con expresión no clásica.

Paradoxical Perforating Folliculitis in a Newly Transplanted Kidney Recipient: Case Study.

We report on a rare case of perforating folliculitis with a paradoxical presentation. An 18-year-old patient with end-stage kidney failure was undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis following 1 year of hemodialysis treatment. While being treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, he developed an itchy papular eruption on an erythematous base over his face and chest, which was diagnosed as chicken pox and treatedwith acyclovir.He also underwent successful deceased donor kidney transplant 1 year later. On day 10 posttransplant, he presented with a papular eruption over the chest, face, and forearms. A skin biopsy revealed a perforating folliculitis lesion. He was treated with prednisone and tacrolimus, as part of the kidney transplant treatment. The skin lesions resolved progressively. His urea, creatinine, and electrolyte levels remained normal and on an ever-improving trend at each visit. By 4 months posttransplant, the skin lesions had resolved almost completely.

Disseminate and Recurrent Infundibulofolliculitis: An Under-Recognized Yet Treatable Entity.

Disseminate and recurrent infundibulofolliculitis (DRIF) is a pruritic papular eruption that predominantly affects young adults with Fitzpatrick skin types 4-6. Due to DRIF’s rarity and under-recognition, no standardized treatment guidelines exist. However, several oral agents have been used, including vitamin A, antibiotics, and retinoids. Topical agents, such as calcineurin inhibitors and mid-potency steroids, can also be efficacious. This brief communication summarizes treatments for DRIF in the published literature. J Drugs Dermatol. 2021;20(12):1353-1354. doi:10.36849/JDD.6173.

Foliculitis pseudolinfomatosa de McNutt (localización nasal) / McNutt's pseudolymphomatous folliculitis (nasal located)

La foliculitis pseudolinfomatosa, descripta por McNutt en 1986, es una afección de etiología desconocida y poco frecuente, que simula un linfoma cutáneo tanto por su clínica como por su histología. Se presenta como una lesión nodular solitaria, eritematosa, de 0,5 hasta 3cm, de crecimiento rápido, sobre todo en la cara, en personas de 40 a 60 años, con una histopatología caracterizada por un infiltrado linfocitario B yT perifocular, y células dendríticas positivas en la inmunohistoquímica para S100yCD1a. Su curso es benigno, muchas veces autolimitado. Se expone el caso de una paciente con una particular forma clínica de pseudolinforma.

Pseudolymphomatous folliculitis, described by McNutt in 1986, is a non-frequent entity of unknown etiology that simulates a cutaneous lymphoma, both clinically and histologically. It shows as a solitary erythematous nodular lesion of 0.5 to 3 cm, with a rapid growth, mainly on the face, in people aged 40 to 60 years, and histopathology characterized by a perifollicular B and T lymphocytic infiltrate, and positive dendritic cells for immunohistochemistry S100 and CD1a. Its course is benign, often self-limited. The case of a patient with a particular clinical form of pseudolymphoma is presented.

A case of lymphomatoid papulosis type E in a young adult: An uncommon entity.

Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) type E is a rare variant of the primary cutaneous CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders, characterized clinically by large necrotic eschar-like lesions and histopathologically by angiodestructive and angioinvasive infiltrates of CD30+ lymphocytes. As in other forms of lymphomatoid papulosis, type E lesions may undergo spontaneous regression after weeks, with frequent recurrences. We report a 21-year old male with an angiodestructive infiltrate of CD30+ lymphocytes manifesting as a papular eruption rather than ulceration, and suggest that this clinical phenotype might be related to the presence of CD4+ lymphocytes in the inflammatory cell infiltrate.