Effective Treatment of Folliculitis Decalvans With a Combination of Oral Isotretinoin and Rifampicin

This study found that among patients with folliculitis decalvans, treatment with isotretinoin achieved the highest rate of stable remission compared to antibiotic regimens like clindamycin and rifampicin.

In this case report, isotretinoin treatment led to complete remission of folliculitis decalvans lesions in a 26-year-old male after a year and a half, despite the lack of certain histopathology images and control tests; the findings also suggest potential familial clustering needing further genetic investigation.

In this retrospective study, oral isotretinoin monotherapy effectively achieved remission in 82% of patients with folliculitis decalvans, with those receiving ≥0.4 mg/kg/day for ≥3 months experiencing better outcomes and less frequent relapse.

This review article highlights the complexity of treating folliculitis decalvans, emphasizing the role of systemic antibiotics like rifampicin and clindamycin as common treatments, while also discussing promising novel therapies, including biological agents, that require further clinical trials to assess their effectiveness and safety.

In this case study, combination therapy with dapsone and isotretinoin significantly improved perifolliculitis capitis abscedens et suffodiens, with the patient remaining symptom-free for six months on reduced medication.