Localized Alopecic Myxedema of the Scalp
June 2023
in “
Dermatology online journal
”
TLDR A person with thyroid problems had rare, swollen, bald spots on their scalp caused by a condition usually found on the shins.
A 66-year-old woman with a history of Graves disease and Hashimoto thyroiditis developed chronic, pruritic plaques on her scalp, leading to progressive hair loss. Despite treatment with high potency topical corticosteroids, her condition persisted. Physical examination revealed two boggy, alopecic plaques with lichenification on her anterior scalp. Punch biopsies confirmed the presence of increased interstitial mucin in the reticular dermis, consistent with localized myxedema. This case highlights a rare presentation of localized myxedema on the scalp, expanding the known cutaneous manifestations of autoimmune thyroid diseases.
