TLDR Oral zinc gluconate and topical steroids significantly improved a rare scalp condition in three elderly patients.
In a study from 2005, three elderly patients aged 66 and 87 years old developed erosive pustulosis of the scalp, a rare condition characterized by chronic pustules leading to scarring alopecia, after undergoing scalp procedures such as the surgical removal of actinic keratosis, total skin graft, and hair grafting. The condition's cause was unknown, and it lacked a standardized treatment. However, all three patients experienced significant improvement after being treated with a combination of oral zinc gluconate and topical steroids. This suggests that this therapeutic approach could be a promising option for managing this challenging and often debilitating condition.
9 citations,
May 2005 in “Annales de dermatologie et de vénéréologie” Oral zinc and topical steroids can effectively treat chronic scalp pustules and hair loss in elderly patients.
February 2020 in “International Journal of Research in Dermatology” EPDS is a rare, chronic scalp condition that's hard to treat and needs better awareness for improved outcomes.
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May 2008 in “British Journal of Dermatology” There are many treatments for permanent hair loss disorders, but their effectiveness varies and there's no clear best option.
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October 2020 in “Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia” The Brazilian Society of Dermatology agrees that oral isotretinoin is effective for acne and other skin conditions, and it's safe when monitored, but more research is needed on dosing and duration.
January 2017 in “Springer eBooks” The document explains various skin conditions and their treatments.