G136 An Unusual Case of Alopecia in a Toddler

May 2019

GM O’Sullivan, V. S. Shivamurthy, Kristina Semkova, Jemima E. Mellerio

alopecia non-scarring alopecia anti-fungal cream topical steroids perifollicular infiltrate lupus profundus lupus erythematosus oral steroids hydroxychloroquine antimalarials systemic steroids discoid lupus erythematosus systemic lupus erythematosus hair loss Plaquenil DLE SLE

TLDR A 2-year-old boy with a rare type of lupus causing hair loss improved with oral steroids.

A 2-year-old Caucasian boy presented with an annular plaque on his forehead and anterior scalp, leading to non-scarring alopecia. Despite treatment with anti-fungal cream, shampoo, and topical steroids, there was no improvement. Mycology tests were negative, and skin biopsies revealed a dense perifollicular infiltrate, suggesting lupus profundus. Blood tests were normal, and there was no evidence of systemic autoimmune or inflammatory conditions. The boy responded well to oral steroids, with hair regrowth and resolution of erythema, though residual subcutaneous atrophy remained. He was started on hydroxychloroquine and monitored. Lupus profundus is rare in children, often affecting the face, and can be treated with antimalarials, systemic steroids, dapsone, or methotrexate.

View this study on doi.org →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Related Community Posts Join

6 / 1000+ results

community Whats this thing on my scalp I tried killing it for over a year with salicylic acid and freeze off but it doesn’t help. Could this thing affect my follicles ? My hairloss started when this thing grew and minoxidil and fin haven’t been doing anything any other treatments?

in Minoxidil 32 upvotes 2 years ago

A user's scalp issue that may be causing their hair loss and potential treatments, such as salicylic acid, finasteride, minoxidil, ketoconazole shampoo, and visiting a dermatologist.

community After Years of Treatment, I'm Shaving my Head and Giving Up

in Shaved/buzzed 119 upvotes 1 week ago

After years of using dutasteride and oral minoxidil without success, the individual decided to shave their head and stop treatment. They considered scalp micropigmentation and hair systems but ultimately accepted their hair loss.

community How uninformed the general public is about hair loss

in Chat 313 upvotes 9 months ago

The conversation highlights the general public's lack of knowledge about hair loss, with various ineffective remedies suggested, such as not wearing hats or using hair fibers. The only effective treatments mentioned for male pattern baldness are medications like minoxidil and finasteride, and hair transplants.

community Why is no one pointing out dandruff as the number 1 evidence/symptom of MPB?

in Chat 55 upvotes 1 year ago

The post discusses the theory that persistent dandruff in areas prone to hair loss could be a sign of hair follicles dying due to DHT, indicating balding. The responses vary, with some users noting improvements in dandruff and hair loss with treatments like Dutasteride, while others experienced hair loss without dandruff.

community Is itching related to hair loss?

in Treatment 54 upvotes 2 years ago

Hair loss, which is sometimes accompanied by itching. Treatments discussed include Minoxidil, finasteride, RU58841 and ketocazole shampoo.

community Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

in Research 692 upvotes 3 months ago

Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

Related Research

1 / 1 results

research Graham-Little Piccardi Lassueur Syndrome and Review of the Literature

5 citations, September 2021 in “Clinical case reports”

GLPLS is a rare skin condition with specific hair loss and skin symptoms.