Folliculitis Decalvans: A Case Report of Satisfactory Recovery After Implementing Isotretinoin Therapy

August 2022 in “ Case reports ”

Jaime Villamil, Ángela Catalina Hinestroza-Ruiz, Doris Juliana Parra-Sepúlveda, Gabriela Andrea López-Moreno

folliculitis decalvans isotretinoin fusidic acid trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole bacterial folliculitis dairy-free diet Accutane Bactrim

TLDR Isotretinoin effectively treated a rare scalp condition, but careful drug monitoring and a dairy-free diet were important.

The document is a case study of a 26-year-old male healthcare worker diagnosed with folliculitis decalvans, a rare skin disease causing painful pustules on the scalp. After initial unsuccessful treatments for bacterial folliculitis, the patient was treated with isotretinoin (20mg daily) for 18 months, resulting in complete remission of the lesions. However, the patient experienced an allergic reaction to fusidic acid and a severe adverse reaction to self-medicated trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The patient's condition remained stable with a dairy-free diet, suggesting a link between dairy consumption and disease relapse. The study concludes that isotretinoin was successful in treating folliculitis decalvans in this case, but emphasizes the need for careful monitoring of drug interactions and patient adherence to treatment.

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