Scarring Alopecia in Localized Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa: A Case Report and a Scoping Review

December 2025 in “ Cureus ”

Pratiksha Patra, Sairekha Ravichandran, Nishit Patel, Paul Rodriguez‐Waitkus, Wei-Shen Chen

scarring alopecia localized dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa COL7A1 mutation topical beremagene geperpavec superficial and mid-dermal fibrosis lymphocytic infiltrate

TLDR Localized dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) can lead to scarring alopecia, highlighting the need to recognize and address this complication.

This document presents a case report of a 58-year-old female with localized dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) and a COL7A1 mutation, who developed scarring alopecia characterized by hair thinning on the vertex scalp. After five months of topical beremagene geperpavec therapy, clinical examination and biopsies revealed features consistent with scarring alopecia, including superficial and mid-dermal fibrosis and a lymphocytic infiltrate. The findings suggest a link between DEB and scarring alopecia, emphasizing the need to recognize this complication and consider potential inflammatory etiologies in patients with DEB.

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