TLDR Erosive pustular dermatosis in elderly people may be linked to aging immune systems and skin damage.
The study reported on 8 cases of Erosive Pustular Dermatosis (EPD) in elderly patients, averaging 84 years old, with histories of chronic sun damage and non-melanoma skin cancer. It suggested that immunosenescence, ultraviolet damage, and hormonal changes contributed to EPD. Treatments included high-potency topical corticosteroids, intralesional corticosteroids, topical tacrolimus, and antibiotics to address immune dysregulation and poor wound healing. The study emphasized understanding EPD's pathophysiology for better prevention, early recognition, and treatment. All subjects provided informed consent, and the study was ethically approved with no conflicts of interest disclosed.
53 citations,
June 2017 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” The conclusion is that high-potency steroids or tacrolimus are effective treatments for erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp.
192 citations,
April 2017 in “Cell host & microbe” Hair follicle development and microbes help regulatory T cells gather in newborn skin.
16 citations,
October 2013 in “Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia” Scalp condition healed with prednisone and tacrolimus.
140 citations,
May 2013 in “The journal of immunology/The Journal of immunology” Memory regulatory T cells need IL-7, not IL-2, to stay in peripheral tissues.
36 citations,
January 2012 in “Dermatology” 
13 citations,
January 2012 in “Case reports in dermatological medicine” An 84-year-old man got a rare scalp condition from using imiquimod cream, which was cured with systemic steroids.
22 citations,
September 2011 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Topical tacrolimus can effectively treat erosive pustular dermatosis and related hair loss.
52 citations,
March 2009 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” A 93-year-old woman developed a rare scalp condition after therapy, which improved with steroids, not antibiotics.
38 citations,
November 2006 in “Pediatric dermatology” Infants with scalp injuries developed a skin condition that improved with steroid creams.
187 citations,
May 1979 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Topical steroids can manage chronic scalp pustules in elderly women.
5 citations,
May 2019 in “Burns” Most patients who had scalp skin removed for burns as children had normal hair growth and were satisfied years later.
4 citations,
July 2015 in “Case Reports in Dermatology” A woman with unexplained hair loss was found to have harmless skin tumors and a scarring hair loss condition, but the tumors didn't cause the hair loss.
