Pediatric Discoid Lupus Erythematosus with Scalp-Exclusive Involvement: Trichoscopy and Response to Early Minipulse Corticosteroid Therapy

This report discusses a case of a 9-year-old boy with scalp-exclusive discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), initially misdiagnosed as other common causes of hair loss. Trichoscopy revealed specific features of scalp DLE, leading to an accurate diagnosis confirmed by biopsy. The patient did not respond to topical corticosteroids, so oral prednisone minipulse therapy was administered, resulting in complete clinical remission and hair regrowth after 8 weeks without adverse effects. The case underscores the importance of trichoscopy for diagnosing pediatric scalp alopecia and suggests that corticosteroid minipulse therapy could be an effective short-term treatment for scalp DLE in children, though further studies are needed.