Enigma of Folliculitis Decalvans in Two Pediatric Sisters Treated with Low-Dose Isotretinoin and Erythromycin

May 2025 in “ Medical Journal of Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth ”

Amogh Ratnaparkhi, Praneet Awake, Anand Bhosale, Prabodh Gaikwad, Neeta Gokhale, Aditi Shende, Vivek Dugad, Rajan Bindu, Prateek Awake, Shruti Dewang

folliculitis decalvans cicatricial alopecia isotretinoin erythromycin chronic inflammation hair follicle destruction immunomodulatory effects anti-inflammatory effects Accutane

Studysummary This report presents a unique case of folliculitis decalvans in two young sisters managed with low-dose isotretinoin and erythromycin, without specifying the treatment's success.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

This case report discusses a rare occurrence of folliculitis decalvans (FD) in two young sisters, aged 5 and 3, who were effectively treated with low-dose isotretinoin and erythromycin. FD is a type of cicatricial alopecia marked by chronic inflammation and hair follicle destruction, and it is rare in children. The sisters showed patchy hair loss but experienced significant hair regrowth and sustained remission after a 3-month treatment. The study suggests isotretinoin as a promising treatment for FD due to its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects, providing an alternative or complement to antimicrobials.

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$Refractory Folliculitis Decalvans Treatment Success with a Novel Surgical Excision Approach Using Guarded High-Tension Sutures$

research Refractory Folliculitis Decalvans Treatment Success with a Novel Surgical Excision Approach Using Guarded High-Tension Sutures

September 2023 in “Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology”

This case series reports successful treatment of refractory folliculitis decalvans using surgical excision with second-intention healing and guarded high-tension suturing, resulting in long-term remission without recurrence over a 10–24 month follow-up period.

research Refractory Folliculitis Decalvans Treated With Adalimumab: A Case Series of 23 Patients

24 citations , March 2022 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

Adalimumab improved folliculitis decalvans in most patients.

research Systemic Photodynamic Therapy in Folliculitis Decalvans

14 citations , September 2017 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology”

In this report, a 26-year-old man with folliculitis decalvans unresponsive to standard treatments experienced significant disease clearance after 25 months of systemic photodynamic therapy, marking the first documented use of this therapy for this condition.

research Oral Isotretinoin as the Most Effective Treatment in Folliculitis Decalvans: A Retrospective Comparison of Different Treatment Regimens in 28 Patients

37 citations , February 2015 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

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.

Folliculitis Decalvans: A Multicenter Review of 82 Patients

Enigma of Folliculitis Decalvans in Two Pediatric Sisters Treated with Low-Dose Isotretinoin and Erythromycin

Research cited in this study

research Refractory Folliculitis Decalvans Treatment Success with a Novel Surgical Excision Approach Using Guarded High-Tension Sutures

research Refractory Folliculitis Decalvans Treated With Adalimumab: A Case Series of 23 Patients

research Systemic Photodynamic Therapy in Folliculitis Decalvans

research Oral Isotretinoin as the Most Effective Treatment in Folliculitis Decalvans: A Retrospective Comparison of Different Treatment Regimens in 28 Patients

research Folliculitis Decalvans: A Multicenter Review of 82 Patients

research Primary Cicatricial Alopecia: Diagnosis and Treatment

research Folliculitis Decalvans: A Rare Inflammatory Scalp Disorder